植物介导的地上地下生物互作网络的构建与演化

植物的地上部分和地下部分同时连接地上生物如植食性昆虫和地下生物如菌根真菌等，构成了复杂的互作网络。植物化学营养和防御物质在根茎叶中的合成、运输及其分配在调控地上地下生物互作中可能发挥着关键作用。解析植物介导的地上地下生物互作网络的构建机制，可以较全面系统地揭示群落内植物-动物-土壤微生物互作及演化规律。本项目在已有工作基础上，以在我国广泛分布的多年生植物乌桕及其地上植食性昆虫和地下昆虫及菌根真菌为研究体系，通过一系列控制实验，阐明地上昆虫与地下生物之间的互作关系；通过大量野外调查，研究不同乌桕种群调控的地上地下生物互作关系网络的变化；并采用代谢组学等分析技术，揭示植物系统诱导防御反应产生的次生代谢物质对地上地下生物互作关系的影响机制。项目研究成果将有助于阐明植物介导的地上地下生物协同演化机制、揭示生物群落内植物-动物-土壤微生物互作规律，并对农业有害生物的治理具有重要的指导意义。

Plant above- and belowground compartments link aboveground herbivorous insects and belowground biota such as mycorrhizal fungi, forming complex interaction network. Plant nutrients and defense chemicals may play critical roles in regulating above- and belowground interactions, since they could be synthesized, transported and/or allocated in and between leaves, stems and roots. Therefore, unveiling mechanisms behind plant-mediated above- and belowground interaction network may assist for better understanding of how plants, animals and soil microbes interact and how the interactions evolve. In this study, we investigate how plants mediate the above- and belowground biotic interaction network, by using Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera) and its associated herbivorous insects and mycorrhizal fungi as a model system. To examine the interactions of aboveground herbivorous insects and belowground biota, we will conduct common garden experiments. We will also conduct field surveys to investigate how plant populations affect the interactive effects within the network which may infer the evolutionary trends. To unveil the chemical mechanisms behind plant-mediated above- and belowground interactions, we will measure nutrients and induced secondary chemicals using metabolomics approaches. The results of this study, together with our previous findings, will assist to better understand how plants mediate ecological and evolutionary interactions of aboveground and belowground organisms that affect plants, animals and soil microbes. The project outcomes may also provide new insights into management of above-and belowground pests in agriculture.