Fly Tephritis conura´s adaption to new host plant
(2022) BINP50 20202Degree Projects in Bioinformatics
- Popular Abstract
- The genes that enable using a new host plant
Insects and their host plants constitute a large share of biodiversity. This suggests that their interactions promote adaptation, leading to diversification. The development of sequencing techniques has now enabled us to address what changes in the genome enable such adaptation. In this project, I investigated the genomic basis of fly Tephritis
conura’s adaptation to novel host plants.
T. conura is a peacock fly that oviposits into the buds of many different host plants, and their larvae develop within the buds feeding on the plants. Some populations have undergone a recent change of host from melancholy thistle (Cirsium heterophyllum) to the cabbage thistle (Cirsium oleraceum). This... (More) - The genes that enable using a new host plant
Insects and their host plants constitute a large share of biodiversity. This suggests that their interactions promote adaptation, leading to diversification. The development of sequencing techniques has now enabled us to address what changes in the genome enable such adaptation. In this project, I investigated the genomic basis of fly Tephritis
conura’s adaptation to novel host plants.
T. conura is a peacock fly that oviposits into the buds of many different host plants, and their larvae develop within the buds feeding on the plants. Some populations have undergone a recent change of host from melancholy thistle (Cirsium heterophyllum) to the cabbage thistle (Cirsium oleraceum). This has resulted in two discrete host races with some small but important differences in morphology. For instance, the ovipositor is of different lengths to match the bud sizes of the host plant. The flies also have much lower survival on the ‘wrong’ host plant. But what genes enable the flies to use the new host plant?
I sequenced entire genomes of tens of individuals from each of the host races to shed light on how the genome has changed in the host race that uses the new host plant. This approach enabled me to pinpoint the regions of the genome that harbour changes that are important for being able to live on the cabbage thistle. I also annotated the genome of T. conura, describing where in the genome different coding genes reside, to find out which part of the genome is responsible for what function.
There are strong differentiations between two host races.
Contrary to previous studies of host plant adaptation in insects, I found many discrete regions that differ between the host races. Future studies into what classes of genes are found in these areas will further add to our understanding of the genomic basis of adaptation to live on a new plant species.
Master’s Degree Project in Bioinformatics 30 credits 2022
Department of Biology, Lund University
Advisor: Anna Runemark
Biodiversity (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9077826
@misc{9077826,
author = {{Chao, Yan}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Fly Tephritis conura´s adaption to new host plant}},
year = {{2022}},
}