Genetics and molecular basis of insect resistance in forest trees

背景资料。由于气候变化和商业全球化，虫害对森林系统的可持续性构成了迅速增长的威胁。该项目将研究当树木被引入具有不同象甲的新地区时，森林树木和破坏性象甲之间的共同进化抗性可能会如何影响相互作用。这项研究将研究从北美引进英国的树木种群，并比较对两种象甲的抗性：(I)原产于英国和欧洲的大松象(Hylobius Abietis)，以及(Ii)原产于北美西北太平洋的白松象(Pissoids Strobi)。预期的结果将为英国林木作物抗象鼻虫育种的发展潜力和策略提供参考。该项目将通过研究锡特卡云杉种群中自然发生的变异的分子反应和遗传基础，来了解对松材线虫的防御。它还将建立在对白松象甲的遗传抗性方面的知识基础上，这些知识已经确定了抗象鼻虫的生物标记物。林木在种群内和种群间表现出中等到高度的遗传多样性，据报道，锡特卡云杉对白松象甲的抗性存在相当大的变异，但英国种群尚未得到研究。培训机会和技能。该项目结合了创新研究和对环境和经济可持续性这一实际问题的短期影响。培训包括与一家商业种子生产公司的定期互动。学生候选人将与项目团队一起确定研究方法和方法。该项目的资助期限为四年，不需要轮换实验，这样学生就可以从头到尾专注于他们的项目。拟议的目标提供了多样化的培训机会。1.通过RNA测序和已知抗性生物标志物的监测，分析遗传背景对象甲危害水平的影响，研究幼树在受到象虫攻击后的危害水平和分子反应。2.全基因组关联研究可用于研究抗象鼻虫遗传变异的分子基础。3.在代表工业林业条件的田间条件下，对不同品系树木的损害程度进行比较评估(工业安置)。4.与研究最终用户和利益相关者的接触。该项目将设在牛津大学植物科学系John MacKay教授的实验室，他的研究兴趣包括针叶树的生物反应和遗传多样性，并在全基因组关联研究和用于基因和反应发现的RNA测序方面拥有专业知识。该项目将受益于森林研究(爱丁堡)的非学术导师罗杰·摩尔博士的专业知识，他将为象虫饲养实验提供指导。行业安置将在ForeStart Inc.(Herefordshire)进行。

Background. Insect pests pose a rapidly growing threat to the sustainability of forest systems as a result of climate change and globalisation of commerce. The project will investigate how co-evolved resistance between forest trees and a damaging weevil may influence interactions when the trees are introduced to a new region with different weevils. The research will study tree populations introduced to Britain from North-America and compare resistance against two weevils: (i) the large pine weevil (Hylobius abietis), which is native to the UK and Europe and, (ii) the white pine weevil (Pissoides strobi), native to the Pacific North-West of North-America. The expected results will inform the potential and the strategy for developing weevil resistance breeding in forest crops in the UK.Aims. The project will develop an understanding of defences against H. abietis by investigating molecular responses and the genetic basis of naturally occurring variability in the Sitka spruce population. It will also build on the body of knowledge on genetics resistance against the white pine weevil, which has identified weevil resistance biomarkers. Forest trees present moderate to high levels of genetic diversity within and among populations and considerable variation for resistance against the white pine weevil has been reported in Sitka spruce but the British population has not been studied.Training opportunity and skills. This project combines innovative research and short-term impact on a practical problem of environmental and economic sustainability. The training involves regular interactions with a commercial seed production company. The student candidate will work with the project team to define the research approach and methodology. The project is funded for four years and lab rotations are not required so that the student may focus on their project throughout. The proposed objectives afford diverse training opportunities. 1. Damage levels and molecular responses will be investigated in young trees following exposure to weevil attack by analysing the influence of the genetic background on weevil damage levels, by RNA-Sequencing and monitoring of known resistance biomarkers. 2. A genome-wide association study may be used to investigate the molecular basis of genetic variability in weevil resistance. 3. Comparative evaluation of damage levels of different strains of trees under field conditions that are representative of industrial forestry conditions (industry placement). 4. Engagement with research end-users and stakeholders.Locations of the organisations. The project will be based in the laboratory of Professor John MacKay in the Department of Plant Sciences (University of Oxford) whose research interests include biological responses and genetic diversity in conifer trees, and has expertise in genome wide association studies and RNA-Sequencing for gene and response discovery. The project will benefit from expertise of the non-academic supervisor Dr Roger Moore at Forest Research (Edinburgh) who will provide guidance on weevil feeding experiments. Industry placement will be with Forestart Inc. (Herefordshire).