Identifying Key Interactions Among Plants, Insects and Microbes in the Phytobiome

植物是它们生存的生态区域或生物群系的重要组成部分。植物的生存依赖于与非生物（水、空气、土壤）或非生物元素和生物群落中有生命或生物元素的相互作用。植物还为微生物和昆虫提供栖息地和营养，这些微生物和昆虫将植物作为食物和栖息地。植物群系一词用于涵盖影响植物或受植物影响的生物和非生物成分的组合以及相互作用。组成植物群系的相互作用可以影响植物健康、植物生态系统，并对昆虫行为和生态产生巨大影响。我的研究项目考察了植物群落中的关键元素，特别关注生物元素如何与昆虫相互作用，包括疾病媒介和传粉媒介。***我的项目的具体目标是：1)研究植物病原体如何直接影响和通过它们共同的寄主植物介导的昆虫媒介，2)确定植物病原体如何影响传粉媒介的行为和适应性，以及3)确定植物和植物病原体如何影响昆虫生物学的中介机制。我采用多种方法。温室和生长室实验用于测试昆虫在不同控制条件下的选择，并量化影响昆虫在不同条件下对植物成功的生活史因素。分子生态学和植物病理学方法用于诊断和确认感染，并检测昆虫和病原体的不同菌株和单倍型（遗传上不同的群体）。分析化学方法用于测试可能影响昆虫对植物反应的差异，或植物对病原体反应的差异。最后，采用现场实验来扩展到更“真实”的条件。***这些研究的发现将有助于我们在许多情况下了解生态学和群落结构，同时进一步了解植物如何作为植物群落的介质发挥作用。然而，这些结果也具有重要的应用价值，因为它们将有助于我们了解疾病是如何在植物中传播的，以及昆虫和微生物在不同环境中的行为。害虫和病原体是造成作物损失的主要因素，也造成加拿大重要森林生境的破坏。我的研究将有助于改善管理环境和自然环境中病虫害的管理。

Plants are essential parts of the ecological areas, or biomes, in which they exist. The survival of plants depends on interactions with both the nonliving (water, air, soil), or abiotic, elements and living, or biotic, elements of their biomes. Plants also provide habitats and nutrition for microbial organisms and insects which use them as food and habitat. The term phytobiome is used to encompass the combined biotic and abiotic components and interactions that affect or are affected by plants. The interactions that compose the phytobiome can influence plant health, plant ecosystems, and can have dramatic impacts on insect behavior and ecology. My research program examines key elements within the phytobiome, paying special attention to how the biotic elements interact with insects, including disease vectors and pollinators.***The specific objectives of my program are to 1) examine how plant pathogens influence insect vectors both directly and as mediated through their common host plants, 2) determine how plant pathogens influence the behavior and fitness of pollinators, and 3) identify the mechanisms mediating how plants and plant pathogens influence insect biology.*** I employ diverse methods. Greenhouse and growth chamber experiments are used to test insects' choices under various controlled conditions and to quantify life-history factors that influence insect success on plants of various conditions. Molecular ecology and plant pathological methods are used to diagnose and confirm infections and to test for different strains and haplotype (genetically distinct groups) of insects and pathogens. Analytical chemistry methods are used to test for differences that may affect an insect's response to a plant, or a plant's response to pathogens. Finally, field experiments are employed to expand to more “real-world” conditions. ***Findings from these studies will contribute to our knowledge of ecology and community structure in many contexts while furthering our understanding of how plants function as mediators of phytobiomes. These results, however, are also of applied importance, as they will contribute to our understanding of how diseases are spread through and among fields of plants, and how insects and microbes behave in different environments. Insect pests and pathogens are primary factors in crop losses and have also contributed to the destruction of important Canadian forest habitats. My research will lead to improved management of pests and disease in both managed and natural environments.