Identification and Validation of Candidate Genes for Aphid Resistance in Wheat

对小麦危害最大的蚜虫是禾谷缢管蚜Rhopalosiphum padi（L.）和麦长管蚜Sitobion avenae（F.）通过取食寄主的韧皮部汁液和减少光合作用，导致产量减少30%。此外，这两种蚜虫物种传播包括大麦黄矮病毒在内的病毒。通常使用杀虫剂来控制蚜虫，然而，在最近的欧盟立法禁止类烟碱之后，杀虫剂抗性化学控制方法的发展不再一致或可持续。控制昆虫最有用的方法是利用寄主抗性，然而，目前还没有已知的抗蚜虫小麦品种可供种植者使用。该项目将确定诺丁汉大学雷小组最近在一种商业小麦品种中发现的新的抗蚜虫机制。我们将使用作图群体和杂交来鉴定与该小麦品种中发现的抗性相关的基因。该项目将涉及利用蚜虫发育和生殖力实验以及行为研究来描述抗性机制（寄生和/或抗异种作用）。候选基因的进一步阐明研究将涉及组学方法（转录组学、代谢组学和挥发组学）。将在先正达的田间研究中确认抗性，因为主要目标是确定基因的可行标记，以便在不久的将来快速转移到其他商业品种中。学生将受益于诺丁汉大学的Ray博士和Kim博士以及基尔大学的布鲁斯教授在作物科学、化学生态学、昆虫学、作物改良和代谢组学领域的指导。此外，学生将在先正达与英国和欧洲的育种工作。

The most damaging aphid species on wheat are Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) and Sitobion avenae (F.) causing up to 30% reductions in yield by feeding on phloem sap from their host and reducing photosynthesis. Furthermore, both aphid species transmit viruses including the Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus. Typically aphids are controlled using insecticides, however following the neonicotinoid ban via recent European Union legislation and the development of insecticide resistance chemical control methods are no longer consistent or sustainable. The most useful method for insect control would be using host-resistance, however, currently there are no known aphid resistant wheat varieties that can be made available to growers. This project will determine the mechanism of novel resistance to aphids recently discovered in a commercial wheat variety by the Ray group at the University of Nottingham. We will use mapping populations and crosses to identify the gene/s associated with the resistance discovered in this wheat variety. The project will involve the characterisation of the resistance mechanism (antibiosis and/or antixenosis) using aphid development and fecundity experiments and behaviour studies. Further elucidation studies for the candidate genes will involve omics approaches (transcriptomics, metabolomics and volatomics). Resistance will be confirmed in field studies with Syngenta as the main objective will be to identify a viable marker/s for the gene/s which will allow the rapid transfer into other commercial varieties in the near future. The student will benefit from the supervision by Dr Ray and Dr Kim at the University of Nottingham and Prof Bruce at the Keele University in the areas of crop science, chemical ecology, entomology, crop improvement and metabolomics. Furthermore, the student will work with UK and Europe-based breeders at Syngenta.