Understanding the extent of local adaptation in natural insect populations and the mechanisms enabling individuals to adapt to their native environment is important for achieving sustainable control of insect pests. Host-pathogen coevolution is widely seen as a major driver of local adaptation. However, to date, the genomic regions and molecules underlying local adaptation in host-parasite interactions are still unknown. Likewise, the relative contributions of species interactions (i.e. biotic factor) and abiotic factors to local adaptation are still unclear. This project is focused on the genomic and molecular bases of local adaptation in coevolving aphids and apples during recent environmental changes. In particular, the project investigates whether local adaptation occurred during the recent rapid colonization of cultivated apple by Dysaphis plantaginea, the major aphid pest of cultivated apple orchards, in Europe.
FOD RT 15/5 APIRISK
Contact: Tim Beliën (tim.belien@pcfruit.be) and Ammar Alhmedi (ammar.alhmedi@pcfruit.be)
Timing: 1/12/2018 – 30/11/2021
Partnership: Chargée de Recherche CNRS - Génétique Quantitative et Évolution - Le Moulon, INRA - Université Paris-Sud - CNRS – AgroParisTech (Amandine Cornille)
Financing: ATIP avenir program, Inserm, Frankrijk