Collaborative Research: RUI: Genetic and Environmental Causes of Willow Hybrid Plant Resistance to Herbivores and a Pathogen

本项目将研究植物杂交对植物食性昆虫和一种锈病病原体抗性的影响。pi将使用两种柳树（Salix sericea和S. eriocephala）的模型系统，这两种柳树在其大部分范围内自然杂交。分子标记将用于确定杂交亲本的纯度，并用于鉴定自然渐渗植物。该研究将比较生长在两种亲本环境中的柳树的遗传等级，并将测量遗传等级和环境对存在和不存在锈病病原体的幼苗适应性的影响。该研究还将通过实验确定，与纯亲本相比，基因渗入是否会影响基因渗入植株的抗性。杂交植物广泛应用于农用和林木育种。这些植物通常具有生长和产量特征，使它们在商业用途上更具生产力。然而，在一些情况下，杂交植物被发现对疾病非常敏感。了解杂交对抗性的影响可能对控制杂交种群的虫害和病害具有重要意义，并可能揭示环境和遗传因素，从而提高杂交植物在农业和林业中的商业成功。

Fritz, R. S. DEB-9615038 This project will study the consequences of plant hybridization on resistance to plant-feeding insects and a rust pathogen. The PIs will use a model system of two willow species (Salix sericea and S. eriocephala) that naturally hybridize in large parts of their range. Molecular markers will be used to establish the purity of parents used in crosses and for identifying naturally introgressed plants. The study will use comparisons of resistance among genetic classes of willows growing in the two parental environments, and will measure the effects of genetic class and environment on fitness of seedlings in the presence and absence of a rust pathogen. The study will also determine experimentally if introgression affects resistance of introgressed plants compared to pure parents. Hybrid plants are widely used for agricultural and forest tree breeding. These plants often have growth and yield characteristics that make them more productive for commercial use. In several cases, however, hybrid plants have been found to be highly susceptible to disease. Understanding the consequences of hybridization on resistance may be important to controlling insect damage and diseases in hybrid populations and could reveal environmental and genetic factors that will improve commercial success of hybrid plants in agriculture and forestry.