Increased pest resistance in oilseed rape mediated by an enhanced UV-B response

昆虫、软体动物和微生物病原体的侵袭给油菜作物造成了巨大的损失，使用杀虫剂来解决这一问题需要花费大量的费用。该项目的目的是进行研究，以支持开发对虫草病抗性更高的油菜新品种。植物暴露在UV-B波长下，这是阳光的一种自然成分，已被证明通过改变植物的化学成分来降低植物对昆虫食草动物的吸引力。一些植物对UV-B的反应是由一种名为UVR8的蛋白质介导的，而对草食的防御反应涉及调节分子茉莉酸。在这个项目中，我们将研究UVR8和一种名为MYC2的蛋白质的潜力，该蛋白质介导对茉莉酸的反应，以提高油菜对昆虫食草病的抗性。我们将测试特定基因的转基因过度表达是否增加了对昆虫食草性的抵抗力，作为操纵UV-B反应可以用于开发新品种的概念的证据。

Attack by insects, molluscs and microbial pathogens causes significant losses to the oilseed rape crop and considerable expense is incurred in trying to counter this problem by using pesticides. The aim of this project is to undertake research to underpin the development of new oilseed rape varieties with increased resistance to insect herbivory. Exposure of plants to UV-B wavelengths, which are a natural component of sunlight, has been shown to reduce the attractiveness of plants to insect herbivores by altering plant chemical composition. Several plant responses to UV-B are mediated by a protein called UVR8 and the defence response to herbivory involves the regulatory molecule jasmonic acid. In this project, we will examine the potential of UVR8 and a protein called MYC2 that mediates the response to jasmonic acid to increase resistance to insect herbivory in oilseed rape. We will test whether transgenic over-expression of specific genes increases resistance to insect herbivory as 'proof of concept' that manipulation of the UV-B response could be used to develop new varieties.