Location: Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit
2021 Annual Report
Accomplishments
1. Chromosomal-level assembly of the genome of an aphid parasitoid. As part of a project on the genetic architectures of host specificity and climatic adaptation, we assembled and annotated the genomes of two aphid parasitoids, APHELINUS ATRIPLICIS and APHELINUS CERTUS. Scaffolding with genetic-linkage data allowed chromosomal-level assembly of the A. ATRIPLICIS genome, and scaffolding a de novo assembly of A. CERTUS with this genetic-linkage scaffolded assembly greatly increased the contiguity of the A. CERTUS assembly. These more contiguous assemblies will aid in identifying the genes affecting host specificity and climatic adaptation in these aphid parasitoids. The results also extend knowledge of the genetic basis for host specificity that may be applicable to a broad range of biological control agents.
