Identifying Key Interactions Among Plants, Insects and Microbes in the Phytobiome

确定植物生物组中植物、昆虫和微生物之间的关键相互作用

• 批准号: RGPIN-2018-04954
• 负责人: Prager, Sean
• 金额: $ 1.75万
• 依托单位: University of Saskatchewan
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2018-01-01 至 2019-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=662553
• 关键词: Identifying; Key; Interactions; Among; Plants

Plants are essential parts of the ecological areas, or biomes, in which they exist. The survival of plants depends on interactions with both the nonliving (water, air, soil), or abiotic, elements and living, or biotic, elements of their biomes. Plants also provide habitats and nutrition for microbial organisms and insects which use them as food and habitat. The term phytobiome is used to encompass the combined biotic and abiotic components and interactions that affect or are affected by plants. The interactions that compose the phytobiome can influence plant health, plant ecosystems, and can have dramatic impacts on insect behavior and ecology. My research program examines key elements within the phytobiome, paying special attention to how the biotic elements interact with insects, including disease vectors and pollinators.***The specific objectives of my program are to 1) examine how plant pathogens influence insect vectors both directly and as mediated through their common host plants, 2) determine how plant pathogens influence the behavior and fitness of pollinators, and 3) identify the mechanisms mediating how plants and plant pathogens influence insect biology.*** I employ diverse methods. Greenhouse and growth chamber experiments are used to test insects' choices under various controlled conditions and to quantify life-history factors that influence insect success on plants of various conditions. Molecular ecology and plant pathological methods are used to diagnose and confirm infections and to test for different strains and haplotype (genetically distinct groups) of insects and pathogens. Analytical chemistry methods are used to test for differences that may affect an insect's response to a plant, or a plant's response to pathogens. Finally, field experiments are employed to expand to more “real-world” conditions. ***Findings from these studies will contribute to our knowledge of ecology and community structure in many contexts while furthering our understanding of how plants function as mediators of phytobiomes. These results, however, are also of applied importance, as they will contribute to our understanding of how diseases are spread through and among fields of plants, and how insects and microbes behave in different environments. Insect pests and pathogens are primary factors in crop losses and have also contributed to the destruction of important Canadian forest habitats. My research will lead to improved management of pests and disease in both managed and natural environments.

植物是它们赖以生存的生态区或生物群落的重要组成部分。植物的生存取决于与其生物群落中的非生物(水、空气、土壤)或非生物元素以及生物或生物元素的相互作用。植物还为微生物和昆虫提供栖息地和营养，这些微生物和昆虫将它们用作食物和栖息地。植物生物群是指影响植物或受植物影响的生物和非生物成分及其相互作用的组合。组成植物生物群的相互作用可以影响植物健康、植物生态系统，并可能对昆虫行为和生态产生重大影响。我的研究计划检查植物生物群中的关键元素，特别关注生物元素如何与昆虫相互作用，包括病媒和传粉者。*我计划的具体目标是1)检查植物病原体如何直接影响昆虫媒介，以及如何通过它们共同的寄主植物影响昆虫媒介；2)确定植物病原体如何影响传粉者的行为和适合度；3)确定植物和植物病原体如何影响昆虫生物学的机制。*我使用了不同的方法。温室和生长室实验被用来测试昆虫在各种控制条件下的选择，并量化影响昆虫在不同条件下成功的生活史因素。分子生态学和植物病理学方法被用来诊断和确认感染，并测试昆虫和病原体的不同菌株和单倍型(遗传上不同的组)。分析化学方法被用来测试可能影响昆虫对植物的反应或植物对病原体的反应的差异。最后，利用现场实验将其扩展到更“真实”的条件。*这些研究的结果将有助于我们在许多背景下了解生态学和群落结构，同时加深我们对植物如何作为植物群落的媒介的理解。然而，这些结果也具有重要的应用价值，因为它们将有助于我们了解疾病是如何在植物领域中传播的，以及昆虫和微生物在不同环境中的行为。虫害和病原体是农作物损失的主要因素，也是破坏加拿大重要森林生境的原因之一。我的研究将改善对管理环境和自然环境中的病虫害的管理。