UK-China Collaboration for production of biologically active homoisoprenoids and their eventual use for pest control
Lead Research Organisation:
Rothamsted Research
Department Name: Directorate
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Publications
Aradottir GI
(2017)
Searching for wheat resistance to aphids and wheat bulb fly in the historical Watkins and Gediflux wheat collections.
in The Annals of applied biology
Benoit JB
(2016)
Unique features of a global human ectoparasite identified through sequencing of the bed bug genome.
in Nature communications
Birkett MA
(2014)
Prospects of genetic engineering for robust insect resistance.
in Current opinion in plant biology
Dewhirst SY
(2012)
Activation of defence in sweet pepper, Capsicum annum, by cis-jasmone, and its impact on aphid and aphid parasitoid behaviour.
in Pest management science
Elek H
(2012)
The potential of hydroxamic acids in tetraploid and hexaploid wheat varieties as resistance factors against the bird-cherry oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi
in Annals of Applied Biology
Groen S
(2016)
Virus Infection of Plants Alters Pollinator Preference: A Payback for Susceptible Hosts?
in PLOS Pathogens
Hegde M
(2012)
Aphid antixenosis in cotton is activated by the natural plant defence elicitor cis-jasmone.
in Phytochemistry
Li W
(2021)
Overexpression of the homoterpene synthase gene, OsCYP92C21, increases emissions of volatiles mediating tritrophic interactions in rice.
in Plant, cell & environment
| Description | The transcriptome of cotton was analysed before and after infestation with cotton bollworm, identifying several upregulated genes. Analysis of the headspace of these infested plants identified several terpene compounds. Two of the upregulated genes were heterologously expressed and their function analysed. It was determined that these two genes are responsible for production of two of the major terpenes detected in the head space. Further behavioural studies demonstrated the attractiveness of these two terpenes to female wasps, natural enemies of the cotton bollworm. The transcriptome of wheat infested with aphids was determined and several genes were shown to be upregulated. Two of these identified genes were shown to be involved in sesquiterpene biosynthesis and transformed into Arabidopsis. The subsequent transgenic Arabidopsis plants was repellent to peach aphids. This work demonstrates potentially useful tools for the defence of wheat crops from aphid pests. Future work will aim to extend this work to rice. |
| Exploitation Route | This work could represent development of a new type of GM crop resistant to pests. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink |