Genetics and molecular basis of insect resistance in forest trees

背景。由于气候变化和商业全球化，害虫对森林系统的可持续性构成了日益严重的威胁。该项目将调查当树木被引入到一个有不同象鼻虫的新地区时，树木和破坏性象鼻虫之间共同进化的抗性如何影响相互作用。这项研究将研究从北美引进英国的树木种群，并比较它们对两种象鼻虫的抵抗力：(i)原产于英国和欧洲的大松象鼻虫（Hylobius abietis）和（ii）原产于北美西北太平洋的白松象鼻虫（Pissoides strobi）。预期的结果将为英国森林作物中发展象鼻虫抗性育种的潜力和策略提供信息。该项目将通过调查锡特卡云杉种群自然变异的分子反应和遗传基础来了解对杉木芽孢杆菌的防御。它还将建立在针对白松象鼻虫的遗传抗性知识体系的基础上，该知识体系已经确定了象鼻虫抗性生物标志物。森林树木在种群内部和种群之间表现出中等到高度的遗传多样性，据报道，在锡特卡云杉中对白松象鼻虫的抗性有相当大的差异，但英国种群尚未进行研究。培训机会和技能。该项目结合了创新研究和对环境和经济可持续性实际问题的短期影响。培训内容包括与一家商业种子生产公司进行定期互动。学生候选人将与项目团队一起定义研究方法和方法。该项目为期四年，不需要实验室轮转，因此学生可以始终专注于他们的项目。拟议的目标提供了多样化的培训机会。1. 将通过rna测序和监测已知抗性生物标志物，分析遗传背景对象鼻虫损害水平的影响，研究暴露于象鼻虫攻击后的幼树的损害水平和分子反应。2. 全基因组关联研究可用于研究象鼻虫抗性遗传变异的分子基础。3. 在代表工业林业条件（工业安置）的田间条件下，对不同树种的损害程度进行比较评价。4. 与研究最终用户和利益相关者的接触。机构的位置。该项目将以牛津大学植物科学系John MacKay教授的实验室为基础，他的研究兴趣包括针叶树的生物反应和遗传多样性，并在基因组广泛关联研究和基因和反应发现的rna测序方面拥有专业知识。该项目将受益于森林研究（爱丁堡）的非学术导师Roger Moore博士的专业知识，他将为象鼻虫喂养实验提供指导。行业安置将与Forestart公司（赫里福德郡）。

Background. Insect pests pose a rapidly growing threat to the sustainability of forest systems as a result of climate change and globalisation of commerce. The project will investigate how co-evolved resistance between forest trees and a damaging weevil may influence interactions when the trees are introduced to a new region with different weevils. The research will study tree populations introduced to Britain from North-America and compare resistance against two weevils: (i) the large pine weevil (Hylobius abietis), which is native to the UK and Europe and, (ii) the white pine weevil (Pissoides strobi), native to the Pacific North-West of North-America. The expected results will inform the potential and the strategy for developing weevil resistance breeding in forest crops in the UK.Aims. The project will develop an understanding of defences against H. abietis by investigating molecular responses and the genetic basis of naturally occurring variability in the Sitka spruce population. It will also build on the body of knowledge on genetics resistance against the white pine weevil, which has identified weevil resistance biomarkers. Forest trees present moderate to high levels of genetic diversity within and among populations and considerable variation for resistance against the white pine weevil has been reported in Sitka spruce but the British population has not been studied.Training opportunity and skills. This project combines innovative research and short-term impact on a practical problem of environmental and economic sustainability. The training involves regular interactions with a commercial seed production company. The student candidate will work with the project team to define the research approach and methodology. The project is funded for four years and lab rotations are not required so that the student may focus on their project throughout. The proposed objectives afford diverse training opportunities. 1. Damage levels and molecular responses will be investigated in young trees following exposure to weevil attack by analysing the influence of the genetic background on weevil damage levels, by RNA-Sequencing and monitoring of known resistance biomarkers. 2. A genome-wide association study may be used to investigate the molecular basis of genetic variability in weevil resistance. 3. Comparative evaluation of damage levels of different strains of trees under field conditions that are representative of industrial forestry conditions (industry placement). 4. Engagement with research end-users and stakeholders.Locations of the organisations. The project will be based in the laboratory of Professor John MacKay in the Department of Plant Sciences (University of Oxford) whose research interests include biological responses and genetic diversity in conifer trees, and has expertise in genome wide association studies and RNA-Sequencing for gene and response discovery. The project will benefit from expertise of the non-academic supervisor Dr Roger Moore at Forest Research (Edinburgh) who will provide guidance on weevil feeding experiments. Industry placement will be with Forestart Inc. (Herefordshire).