Degree
Master of Science
Program
Biology
Abstract
Spider mite feeding on A. thaliana induces the production of indole glucosinolates (IGs), plant secondary metabolites that negatively affect mite performance. In this study I conducted selection experiments on A. thaliana with varying levels of IGs, to determine if mites could adapt to IGs and other defense compounds. After 12 months, mites reared on host with IGs performed significantly better on A. thaliana than mites maintained on beans. However, an adaptation cost was detected between selected mite lines and their ancestral host. The qRT-PCR data on different mite lines revealed that the detoxification genes previously identified may only be involved in general stress response to IGs and mites do not interfere with A. thaliana defense response. Thus, performing the entire transcriptome profile of selected mites can help to better understand the molecular mechanisms involved in mites’ ability to develop resistance to IGs, but also to other defense compounds in A. thaliana.
Recommended Citation
Ratlamwala, Huzefa, "Two spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) selection to Arabidopsis thaliana" (2014). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 2236.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/2236
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Agriculture Commons, Biology Commons, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons, Genetics and Genomics Commons, Plant Sciences Commons