a (re-) introduction to biocontrol & phd project update

Project Update:Population Genomics of Natural EnemiesGSS | June 14th, 2016Kim Ferguson

Biocontrol: a brief (re-)introductionBiological control, biocontrol, natural enemies, classical vs conservation vs others...

What is biocontrol?

Types of Biocontrol

Natural

Conservation

Classical

Augmentative

Definitions based on van Lenteren, in BioControl (2012)

Agriculture & Biocontrol:Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Che

mical

Biological

Physical-Mechanical

Cultural

Toxic

ity Two important concepts:- Economic Injury Level (EIL)- Control, not eradication

Current events: Mosquitos and Biocontrol

What are the consequences of getting rid of mosquitos entirely?

Future of Biocontrol?

Future of Biocontrol?

Breeding Invertebrates for Next Generation Biocontrol

My project within BINGO

Quick recap: what is my project??• : improving natural enemies used in

biological control via next generation techniques

• RP1: Population Genomics of Natural Enemies• My own goal: population genomics of commercial vs wild

populations

• 3 species »» 3 genomes »» 3 parallel collaborations

Nesidiocoris tenuis

Used against:- Whitefly- Tuta absoluta

Nesidiocoris tenuis• Likely faces severe inbreeding pressure as well as laboratory

adaptation• Unknown source history?• Lack of stock renewal

• Work with RP10 (Valencia, Spain) in terms of how genomics can inform reducing negative effects of N. tenuis on tomato crops

• Progress: Should know by the end of the week if females in established ‘families’ laid eggs to begin sib-mating inbreeding scheme

• Upcoming: This is long-term rearing, so more rearing!

Trichogramma brassicae

Trichogramma spp.

Trichogramma brassicae

• Commercial stock is renewed from various local populations annually, so little risk of inbreeding

• Work with RP12 (Bremen, Germany) for strain-specific markers

• Progress: Obtained parthenogenetic strain from Germany, will speed up the road to sequencing as compared to inbreeding

• Upcoming: Breeding and then harvesting them for sequencing in July

Amblyseius swirskii

Amblyseius swirskii

Used against:- Whitefly (eggs & larvae)- Thrips (eggs & larvae)

Amblyseius swirskii• Likely faces severe inbreeding pressure and lab adaptation• Initial bottlenecks• Lack of stock renewal

• Work with RP3 (Valencia, Spain) in terms of how the genomic information can inform performance on tomatoes as compared to wild populations

• Progress: Scaling down industrial rearing to small-scale, isofemale rearing is proving... Difficult.

• Upcoming: Hopefully, on track for finishing inbreeding in September/October.

More information?BINGO is on Twitter, @bingo_itn

You can like Breeding Invertebrates for Next Generation Biocontrol on Facebook

We even have a newsletter: www.bingo-itn.eu for more information and sign-up

Acknowledgements• Bart Pannebakker, Eveline Verhulst, and Bas Zwaan• Gabriella Bukovinszkiné Kiss and Nina Fatouros• BINGO colleagues• Everyone here at the Lab of Genetics• Kirsten Oude Lenferink and everyone at Koppert BV• AMW Nützlinge• And you!

Image Credits• Slide 3, clockwise from top left:

• Nematode, University of Maryland• Nanophyes marmoratus, BioLib,

http://www.biolib.cz/• Virus, Shutterstock• Cane toad, The Courier Mail Australia• Mucuna pruriens, Florist Taxonomy,

http://www.floristtaxonomy.com/

• Slide 4, clockwise from top left:• Ladybug, Shutterstock• Bug Hotel, NIOO-KNAW• Trichogramma brassicae, Bugs In The

Picture, bugsinthepicture.com• Slide 5: adapted from the US Environmental

Protection Agency

• Slide 10, R-L: • Trichogramma brassicae, Bugs In The

Picture, bugsinthepicture.com• Nesidiocoris tenuis, Jarmo Holopaeinn• Amblysieus swirskii, Koppert BV

• Slide 11 (and throughout):• Nesidiocoris tenuis, Kim Ferguson

• Slide 13 (and throughout):• Trichogramma brassicae, care of Sophie

Chattington @ Uni Bremen• Slide14 (all): Shutterstock• Slide 16 (and throughout):

• Swirski-Plus packet, Kim Ferguson