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经过数百万年的进化，导致了相互作用物种之间的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科普数量有限的宿主的防御，但我们对多面手食草动物如何应对大量不同宿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（Arabidopsis）为寄主植物，极端通性食草动物二斑叶螨（Tetranychus urticae（Koch），TSSM）为寄主植物的植物-食草动物互作实验体系。TSSM以全球1100多种植物物种（包括150多种农作物）为食。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出色能力，TSSM正在成为威胁全球作物安全的高风险害虫。在过去的五年里，我的团队：a）证明了TSSM在其他以细胞内容物为食的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学资源（其与模式植物拟南芥的现有资源相结合，提供了对两种相互作用的生物体进行同时功能基因组学分析的独特机会），和c）进行拟南芥和TSSM应答的初始全基因组相互分析。在接下来的5年里，我们将建立在以前的知识和开发的资源，以解决以下研究问题：a）拟南芥植物如何建立防御系统的未受伤的组织在预期的TSSM喂养？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的作用模式是什么？拟议的多学科方法将结合联合收割机植物遗传学，植物和螨生理学，分子生物学，转录组学和代谢组学。有望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反适应拟南芥防御。这项研究将建立一个前所未有的水平的理解植物-草食动物的相互作用。除了贡献的基础知识，植物防御机制的知识，可以导致新的控制策略的发展对TSSM，这是一个重要的农业害虫，而螨的反适应机制将有助于保持这些控制策略在农业实践中的效力。此外，拟议的研究将能够对HQP进行出色的培训，培养在农业组学和作物保护这一高度重视的领域拥有尖端技能的专家，以及商业化、知识产权和传播方面的可转让技能。

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.