糖心Vlog

Research conducted by 糖心Vlog assistant professors of biology, Scott Harrison and Ed Mondor, investigating the genetic diversity of a well-known pest insect, may help farmers more effectively use pesticides and potentially decrease long-term costs. The research was recently published in聽PLoS ONE,聽an international, peer-reviewed, open-access, online publication. The two researchers say that invasive pests鈥� impact on the U.S. economy is estimated at $138 billion annually.聽聽鈥淯nderstanding the characteristics that make a species a good 鈥榠nvader鈥� are important for prevention of new invasive species and controlling established invaders,鈥� says Harrison.聽聽鈥淥ur understanding of genetic diversity improves our ability to use pesticides to effectively control pest insects.鈥� One example the two researchers noted is that there is already a known genetic basis for pesticide resistance in aphids.聽聽Insect populations with high genetic diversity may require a combination of pesticides whereas populations or species with low diversity may require a simpler and potentially less costly approach. Harrison and Mondor鈥檚 research focuses on聽Aphis nerii, a well-established invasive species in the U.S. that lives on both milkweed and oleander plants.聽During their research, they discovered extremely low genetic diversity in聽Aphis nerii聽populations in the southern region of the country.聽聽Harrison explains, 鈥淎phids reproduce without mating, so mothers produce daughters that are genetic clones of themselves.聽聽During our research, we discovered a superclone.鈥� When Harrison and Mondor started the project, they began with the intention of using genetic markers to track individual clones to understand how patches of plants are colonized by aphids.聽聽They used genetic tools to distinguish clones as it is impossible to tell clones apart by visual methods. 鈥淲e were surprised to discover that there was no genetic variation among any of the individuals that we sampled 鈥� they were all the same clone,鈥� he said.聽Harrison and Mondor later expanded their sampling to other locations in Georgia and eventually to California.聽聽They discovered that one genetic clone was distributed across the southern United States.聽聽To their knowledge this is the first time a single clone has been so abundant and distributed so broadly.聽鈥淭his might be the largest superclone ever discovered.聽聽From what we know about other aphids, it鈥檚 not even in the same ballpark,鈥� says Mondor. 鈥淭his is counter to conventional thinking that some level of genetic diversity (even in asexual organisms) is necessary for an invasive species to become well-established. Our results certainly tell a far different story,鈥� said Mondor.聽鈥淭his research may help scientists better understand the importance of genetic diversity for biological invasions, and lead to novel solutions to control the spread of these organisms.鈥� 糖心Vlog, a Carnegie Doctoral/Research University founded in 1906, offers 115 degree programs serving nearly 20,000 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement. In 2011, the University was named the fourth most popular university in the country by聽U.S. News & World Report聽and is a top choice of Georgia鈥檚 HOPE scholars.聽聽Georgia Southern is recognized for its student-centered approach to education. Visit: www.georgiasouthern.edu.