Objectif Arthropods can be infected by facultative symbionts with diverse effects on host reproduction and fitness. Cytoplasmic reproductive incompatibility (CI) appears to be the most prevalent effect, and is caused by two unrelated bacteria: Wolbachia and the recently discovered Cardinium. Bacteria-induced CI is of special interest as it may play a role in reproductive isolation and speciation of insect hosts. Reproductive barriers can arise also by incompatibility due to hybridization (HI). Cardinium-induced CI occurs in the parasitoid wasp Encarsia pergandiella, a natural enemy of agricultural pests, and may have important implications for its use in biological control. Indeed, CI may lead to a suppression of population growth when populations with a different infection status interact. Nevertheless, understanding the role of heritable bacterial symbionts in the biology of natural enemies has not yet been widely recognized as a key research objective of biocontrol programmes.The project aims to: 1) evaluate the role of CI-inducing bacteria and genetic isolation mechanisms in reproductive isolation and competitive interactions of parasitoid populations; 2) evaluate how the introduction of a new biocontrol agent that is partially reproductively isolated (via CI or HI) from an established parasitoid population affects the biological control of a key agricultural pest. The project will use fundamental studies of CI and HI to develop quantitative models of population interactions, and then test model predictions in population cage and greenhouse studies. The data collected will be used to develop a conceptual model for biocontrol agents with different geographical ranges and reproductive incompatibilities in order to understand the consequences for biological control. Champ scientifique natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologybacteriologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesecologynatural sciencesbiological scienceszoologyentomologynatural sciencesbiological scienceszoologyinvertebrate zoology Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Thème(s) FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IOF - Marie Curie Action: "International Outgoing Fellowships for Career Development" Appel à propositions FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IOF Voir d’autres projets de cet appel Régime de financement MC-IOF - International Outgoing Fellowships (IOF) Coordinateur CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE Contribution de l’UE € 261 627,60 Adresse PIAZZALE ALDO MORO 7 00185 Roma Italie Voir sur la carte Région Centro (IT) Lazio Roma Type d’activité Research Organisations Contact administratif Massimo Giorgini (Dr.) Liens Contacter l’organisation Opens in new window Site web Opens in new window Coût total Aucune donnée
