Population genomics: a new approach for studies of speciation in insects due to ho...
| Grant number: | 14/11495-3 |
| Support type: | Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants |
| Duration: | July 01, 2015 - June 30, 2020 |
| Field of knowledge: | Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy |
| Principal Investigator: | Alberto Soares Corrêa |
| Grantee: | Alberto Soares Corrêa |
| Home Institution: | Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil |
| Assoc. researchers: | Ana Maria Lima de Azeredo-Espin ; Celso Omoto ; Fernando Luis Cônsoli |
| Associated grant(s): | 19/10018-0 - New strategies to combat an invasive agricultural pest, AP.R SPRINT |
| Associated scholarship(s): | 18/20351-6 - Dormancy and host adaptation of two allopatric lineages of Euschistus heros (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), BP.DR |
Abstract
Among the biggest troubles of Brazilian agriculture is the sustainability of production systems. Thus, it is necessary to carry out research that seeks management plans that increase productivity through strategies of low environmental and social impact. In Brazil, where the abiotic factors are favorable, insect pest´s damages are a major component of productivity losses. Molecular ecology is a field of evolutionary biology that is concerned with applying molecular population genetics, molecular phylogenetics, and more recently genomics to traditional ecological questions. This science area applied to agricultural importance arthropods has assumed a prominent role in international research groups with application in several areas of entomology as support for programs of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). However, research with basis in molecular ecology of arthropods to build and suit pest management plans in Brazil is still completely neglected. The implementation of this research line have aim to carry out research and teach activities that involves molecular species identification, demographics, phylogeography, population structure, mapping of invasion routes and dispersion of pests and assess the genetic mechanisms of adaptation major Brazilian pest agriculture complexes to the environment and the different control strategies. The main pest complexes of Brazilian agriculture are lepidopteron defoliators, sucking (phytopathogen vectors), coleopteran pests of grain and inflorescences, miner leaf and fruit bores. This project has the aim of showing the principles, tools and contribution of Molecular Ecology in IPM. Here, we will use as model the Helicoverpa species complex. H. armigera and H. zea populations from major agricultural regions in the country will be collected. Thus, we will apply mitochondrial, nuclear and microsatellite molecular markers in order to identify to species, strains and hybrids, establishing population structure parameters in space, time and different hosts. Later in laboratory conditions, we will carry out reproductive and ecological bioassays with different Helicoverpa species and strains, through molecular markers, we will assess the strains and reproductive potential for paternity testing in order to identify the adaptive potential of different species and strains to different hosts and control tactics. Finally, the genetic mechanisms responsible for the adaptation of Helicoverpa spp. to different agricultural environment factors and control tactical will be explored using transcriptome analyzes tools (next-generation sequencing) of different species, strains and populations. The project results will contribute with scientific knowledge and technologies production for the development and implementation of sustainable management programs of Helicoverpa spp in the Brazilian agroecosystem. Besides, this project will be of great importance for the consolidation of the research area "Molecular Ecology of Arthropods" at the Department of Entomology and Acarology ESALQ / USP, as will operational support for other research to be conducted with other pests and beneficial arthropods of interest in the Brazilian agroecosystem. Furthermore, the establishment of this research area aims to increase the number of national and international collaborations to the department, and it forms professionals to disseminate this technology and reduce the lack of information in this area in the Brazilian entomology. (AU)