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

植物与食草动物的相互作用进化了数百万年，导致相互作用的物种之间出现了一场精心设计的军备竞赛。虽然专业食草动物进化出特定的策略来应对有限数量的寄主的防御，但我们对通才食草动物如何应对大量不同寄主植物的防御的理解在很大程度上是未知的。建立了以拟南芥（作为寄主植物）和极端多面手草食动物叶螨（Tetranychus urticae (Koch)， TSSM）为研究对象的植物-草食相互作用实验系统。TSSM以1100多种植物为食，其中包括全球150多种作物。随着全球变暖条件下繁殖潜力的增加，加上适应新作物和对农药产生抗性的突出能力，TSSM正在成为威胁全球作物安全的高风险害虫。在过去的5年中，我的团队：a)证明了TSSM在其他细胞内容摄食节肢动物中独特的摄食模式；b)开发了TSSM的基因组学和反向遗传资源（结合模式植物拟南芥已有的资源，为同时进行两种相互作用生物的功能基因组学分析提供了独特的机会）；c)对拟南芥和TSSM的反应进行了初步的全基因组互反分析。在未来的5年里，我们将在已有的知识和已开发的资源的基础上，解决以下研究问题：***a)拟南芥植物如何在TSSM喂养的预期中在系统未损伤组织中建立防御？***b)与拟南芥抗TSSM相关的基因功能是什么？***c)拟南芥防御化合物对TSSM的作用模式是什么？***拟议的多学科方法将结合植物遗传学、植物和螨生理学、分子生物学、转录组学和代谢组学。该研究有望发现新的植物防御调控因子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性。这项研究将使人们对植物-食草动物相互作用的认识达到前所未有的水平。除了对基础知识的贡献外，植物防御机制的知识还可以指导针对重要农业害虫TSSM的新控制策略的开发，而螨虫对抗适应机制将有助于保持这些控制策略在农业实践中的有效性。此外，拟议的研究将为HQPs提供出色的培训，培养在高度重视的农业基因组学和作物保护领域拥有尖端技能的专家，以及在商业化、知识产权和沟通方面的可转移技能

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.**