Genome architecture and evolution of sex chromosomes in Pentatomidae pest bugs and related species

• Grant number: 21/05908-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: January 01, 2022
• End date: December 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Animal Genetics
• Principal Investigator: Diogo Cavalcanti Cabral de Mello
• Grantee: Diogo Milani
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Eukaryotic genomes are complex in composition, functioning and evolution. Part of this complexity is due to the large proportion of repetitive DNAs, besides the occurrence of sex chromosomes. The study of repetitive DNAs and sex chromosomes, as they have accumulated this class of DNA, is complex and neglected in most genome assembly projects. Moreover, it is known that genomic aspects can influence the adaptability in different environments and there are reports of involvement of sex chromosomes in adaptation to agricultural environments. Genomic studies can be an important tool in the understanding of basic biology and evolution of species, being also useful for possible practical applications for the benefit, for example, in agriculture. In Brazil, despite being important agricultural producer, little is known about the genomic and chromosomal organization of the species that are pests in our crops. Among these important pests in the country are the Pentatomidae bugs. In this proposal we aim to understand the genomic architecture, composition and evolution of sex systems and their possible influence on the adaptability (in the case of genes on sex chromosomes) of Pentatomidae to agricultural areas. In addition, the data will contribute to the future assembly of the genomes of species, information that are relevant and that may contribute in aspects applied to agriculture. For this, we will integrate data from classical cytogenetics, molecular cytogenetics and genomics.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

HICKMANN, FREDERICO; CORREA, ALBERTO SOARES; BARDELLA, VANESSA B.; MILANI, DIOGO; CLARINDO, WELLINGTON R.; SOARES, FERNANDA A. F.; CARVALHO, RENATA F.; MONDIN, MATEUS; CABRAL-DE-MELLO, DIOGO C.. Cytogenomic characterization of Euschistus (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) species and strains reveals low chromosomal and repetitive DNAs divergences. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, v. N/A, p. 18-pg., 2023-09-01. (18/21772-5, 19/19069-7, 18/20351-6, 21/05908-7)

GASPAROTTO, ANA E.; MILANI, DIOGO; MARTI, EMILIANO; FERRETTI, ANA BEATRIZ S. M.; BARDELLA, VANESSA B.; HICKMANN, FREDERICO; ZRZAVA, MAGDA; MAREC, FRANTISEK; CABRAL-DE-MELLO, DIOGO C.. A step forward in the genome characterization of the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis: karyotype analysis, sex chromosome system and repetitive DNAs through a cytogenomic approach. CHROMOSOMA, v. 131, n. 4, p. 15-pg., 2022-10-11. (21/05908-7, 20/06188-5, 19/19069-7, 18/21772-5, 18/20351-6)