Identification of Molecular Mechanisms underlying Reciprocal Responses in the Interaction between Arabidopsis and the Cell-Content-Feeding Chelicerate Herbivore Spider Mite

植物-食草动物的相互作用经过数百万年的演变，导致了相互作用的物种之间精心设计的军备竞赛。虽然专业食草动物进化出了特定的策略来应对有限数量的宿主的防御，但我们对多面手食草动物如何应对过多不同宿主植物的防御的理解在很大程度上是未知的。我建立了由拟南芥(作为寄主植物)和一种极端多面性的草食动物--二斑叶螨(Tetranychus urticae(Koch)，TSSM)组成的植物-食草动物相互作用实验系统。TSSM以全球1100多种植物为食，其中包括150多种农作物。随着全球变暖条件下繁殖潜力的增加，再加上对新作物的适应能力和对杀虫剂的抗药性，TSSM正成为威胁全球作物安全的一种高风险害虫。在过去的5年里，我的团队：a)展示了TSSM在其他含细胞摄食节肢动物中的独特取食模式；b)为TSSM开发了基因组学和反向遗传学资源(结合模式植物拟南芥的现有资源，提供了对这两种相互作用生物进行同时功能基因组学分析的独特机会)，以及c)对拟南芥和TSSM的响应进行了初步的全基因组范围的相互分析。在接下来的5年里，我们将利用已有的知识和开发的资源来解决以下研究问题：*a)拟南芥植物如何在系统未受伤害的组织中建立防御系统，以期待TSSM的取食？*b)与拟南芥对TSSM的抗性相关的基因的功能是什么？*c)拟南芥防御化合物对TSSM的作用方式是什么？*拟议的多学科方法将结合植物遗传学、植物和螨类生理学、分子生物学、基因组学和代谢组学。预计它将发现新的植物防御调节剂和具有杀螨活性的植物化合物。同时，它将确定TSSM对拟南芥防御的反适应。这项研究将建立对植物-食草动物相互作用的前所未有的理解水平。除了对基础知识的贡献外，植物防御机制的知识还可以帮助开发新的防治策略来防治TSSM这一重要的农业害虫，而叶螨逆境适应机制将有助于维持这些防治策略在农业实践中的有效性。此外，拟议的研究将使HQP得到出色的培训，培养出在高度重视的农业基因组学和作物保护领域具有尖端技能的专家，以及商业化、知识产权和通信方面的可转让技能。

Plant-herbivore interactions evolved over millions of years resulting in an elaborate arms race between interacting species. While specialist herbivores evolved specific strategies to cope with the defenses of a limited number of hosts, our understanding of how generalist herbivores deal with the defenses of a plethora of diverse host plants is largely unknown. I have established the plant-herbivore interaction experimental system comprising of Arabidopsis (as a host plant) and an extreme generalist herbivore, the two spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae (Koch), TSSM). TSSM feeds on over 1100 plant species including more than 150 crops worldwide. With increased reproductive potential under conditions of global warming, combined with an outstanding ability to adapt to new crops and develop resistance to pesticides, the TSSM is becoming a high-risk pest threatening global crop security. In the last 5 years, my group: a) demonstrated TSSM's unique feeding pattern among other cell-content feeding arthropods, b) developed genomics and reverse genetics resources for TSSM (which combined with the resources already existing for the model plant Arabidopsis provide a unique opportunity to undertake simultaneous functional genomics analysis of both interacting organisms), and c) performed initial genome-wide reciprocal analysis of Arabidopsis and TSSM responses. In the next 5 years, we will build on previous knowledge and developed resources to address following research questions:***a) How Arabidopsis plants establish defenses in systemic unwounded tissues in the anticipation of TSSM feeding?***b) What is the function of genes that associate with Arabidopsis resistance to TSSM?***c) What is the mode of action of Arabidopsis defense compounds against TSSM?***The proposed multidisciplinary approach will combine plant genetics, and plant and mite physiology, molecular biology, transcriptomics and metabolomics. It is expected to uncover new regulators of plant defenses and plant compounds with acaricidal activity. In parallel, it will identify TSSM counter-adaptations to Arabidopsis defenses. This research will establish an unprecedented level of understanding of plant-herbivore interaction. Besides contribution to the fundamental knowledge, the knowledge of plant defense mechanisms can lead to development of new control strategies against TSSM that is an important agricultural pest, while mechanisms of mite counter adaptations will help maintain the efficacy of these control strategies in agricultural practices. Additionally, the proposed research will enable an outstanding training of HQPs, creating experts with cutting-edge skills in the highly valued area of agrigenomics and crop protection, in addition to transferable skills in commercialization, IP and communication.**