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Research
The attack of a phytophagous insect will trigger a cascade of metabolic pathways in the host plant, leading to the production of repellent or toxic molecules. If these pathways and their end products are already identified for several models, this is less the case for the initiators, called “elicitors”.
My project aims to clarify the interactions between pests belonging to the guild of piercing-sucking and their host plants of agronomic interest.
Several models are considered: exotic bugs Nezara viridula L. and Halyomorpha halys Stål (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and various species of aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae). The integration of proteomic and transcriptomic tools will identify salivary protein compounds responsible for the induction of plant defense, allowing us to go forward in the context of integrated pest management.
