Decoding mechanisms of chemical adaptation in Leptinotarsa decemlineata

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

9:42 AM – 9:54 AM MST

Location: Phoenix Convention Center, 131 C, PCC

Presenting Author(s)

FZ

Fang (Rose) Zhu, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)

Assistant Professor
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, Pennsylvania

Co-Author(s)

TM

Timothy W. Moural (he/him/his)

Principle Investigator
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, Pennsylvania
JA

James A. Abendroth

The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, Pennsylvania
QC

Qi-Ren Chen

The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, Pennsylvania
Mike S. Wolfin (he/him/his)

Assistant Research Professor
The Pennsylvania State University
State College, Pennsylvania
Andrei Alyokhin

Professor
University of Maine
Orono, Maine

The ongoing arms race between plants and insects plays a crucial role in driving their coevolution. Plants produce hundreds of thousands allelochemicals to defend against insect herbivores. In response, insects have evolved countermeasures to overcome these plant defenses. This adaptive capability is believed to be co-opted by insects for developing resistance to synthetic insecticides. Leptinotarsa decemlineata is a major agriculture pest of Solanaceous crops, causing significant crop production losses worldwide. Currently, synthetic insecticides are the main management tactics to control CPB. However, CPB has robust ability to develop resistance to all major classes of insecticides. Our research aims to reveal the potential mechanisms underlying host plant adaption and insecticide resistance.