Project Number: 5352-22430-001-04
Project Type: Trust

Start Date: Apr 01, 2009
End Date: Mar 31, 2012

Objective:
The objective of this project is to identify proteins and physiological processes for codling moth and other lepidopteran pests of temperate tree fruits that are critical for insect survival. These could include but are not limited to 1) The endocrine system, 2) The chemosensory system, 3) reproduction and development, and 4) midgut function (feeding and digestion). Once identified, the protein targets will be exploited for use in codling moth control by developing means to disrupt their function.

Approach:
1) Endocrine system: We have identified peptide hormones that regulate pheromone biosynthesis, and possibly diapause. We will: A) clone and characterize the receptors for these peptide hormones and determine their localization and expression patterns, B) Perform bioassays to determine the interaction of the peptide hormones and their receptors, and C) Perform RNAi experiments on the receptors to determine if inhibited function has affects on insect physiology. 2) Chemosensory system: We will continue to identify gustatory and odorant receptors, and components of their signaling pathway through the use of expressed sequence tags generated from codling moth antennae, legs and mouthparts. We will also use degenerate oligonucleotide primers designed against conserved amino acid regions to amplify cDNA sequences that encode chemosensory receptors. 3) Reproduction: We will identify proteins that are crucial to reproduction and development through the use of expressed sequence tags generated from codling moth eggs (from various stages) and female abdomen tips (containing immature eggs and reproductive organ). When proteins of interest are identified we will characterize them for expression patterns and determine their importance to codling moth survival. 4) Midgut function: We will identify targets of Bacillus thuringiensis toxins in the midgut. Protein targets of B. thuringiensis toxins will be identified through molecular and biochemical techniques. Once identified, these targets will be assessed to determine their importance to codling moth survival. Documents Trust with WA Tree Fruit Research Commission. Log 37908. Formerly 5352-22000-017-49T (6/10);5352-22000-019-15T (1/11).