Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

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.