Unravelling the molecular-genetic underpinnings of hybrid defects in agricultural pests

Informazioni relative al progetto

HYBRIPEST

ID dell’accordo di sovvenzione: 101078288

DOI

10.3030/101078288

Data della firma CE 20 Febbraio 2023

Data di avvio 1 Maggio 2023

Data di completamento 30 Aprile 2028

Finanziato da

• European Research Council (ERC)

Costo totale

€ 1 499 375,00

Contributo UE

€ 1 499 375,00

Coordinato da

UNIVERSITEIT GENT
Belgium

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - HYBRIPEST (Unravelling the molecular-genetic underpinnings of hybrid defects in agricultural pests)

Periodo di rendicontazione: 2023-05-01 al 2025-10-31

Sintesi del contesto e degli obiettivi generali del progetto

In animals, healthy offspring are not guaranteed from every mating. Offspring from certain crosses may suffer from severe defects, including sterility and mortality. These hybrid defects can evolve rapidly and occur within species and between species that hybridize. Hybrid dysfunction is an isolating barrier that can drive speciation and maintain species barriers. The underpinning genetic processes have captivated generations of evolutionary biologists. Pest control programs that introduce hybrid defects in pest populations are a promising management strategy for agricultural pests and disease vectors. Unravelling the underpinning molecular-genetic mechanisms is essential to fully understand the evolution of hybrid dysfunction, its potential contribution to speciation, and how these incompatibilities can be harnessed for effective pest control. In HYBRIPEST, we focus on Wolbachia-mediated and nuclear-mediated incompatibility.

Lavoro eseguito dall’inizio del progetto fino alla fine del periodo coperto dalla relazione e principali risultati finora ottenuti

We established, genotyped, and phenotyped reference panels of two Tetranychus mite species, spanning their global genetic diversity. We coupled the penetrance of Wolbachia-mediated cytoplasmic incompatibility to cif gene repertoires, cif transcription, and infection density. We introduced multiple Wolbachia variants into novel host backgrounds and quantified the impact of transinfection on CI strength and infection density. We are currently dissecting the host genic factors that shape CI strength. In parallel, we quantified the expression of intraspecific and interspecific hybrid sterility in these reference panels. For these experiments, we developed a novel high-throughput genotyping tool to guarantee that these mite lines are not infected with reproductive symbionts. Leveraging our genomic and phenotypic data of European populations, we discovered likely cases of strong nuclear-mediated reproductive isolation within and between hybridizing Tetranychus species. We show that hybrid sterility can be easily recovered by generating specific recombinants. We are now dissecting causal genic factors.

Progressi oltre lo stato dell’arte e potenziale impatto previsto (incluso l’impatto socioeconomico e le implicazioni sociali più ampie del progetto fino ad ora)

HYBRIPEST will generate a deeper understanding of how endosymbiosis evolves and how symbionts may be harnessed for pest control. In parallel, HYBRIPEST delivers key mechanistic insight into early speciation, an enigmatic phase that continues to fascinate evolutionary biologists.