Predoctoral Fellowship for Ryan Ridenbaugh: Genetic and Developmental Mechanisms Underlying Insect Ovipositor Variation

PROJECT SUMMARY Instructions: The summary is limited to 250 words. The names and affiliated organizations of all Project Directors/Principal Investigators (PD/PI) should be listed in addition to the title of the project. The summary should be a self-contained, specific description of the activity to be undertaken and should focus on: overall project goal(s) and supporting objectives; plans to accomplish project goal(s); and relevance of the project to the goals of the program. The importance of a concise, informative Project Summary cannot be overemphasized. Title: Title Of Project - 144 Character Limit Including Spaces PD: Ridenbaugh, Ryan D. Institution: University Of Kentucky CO-PD: Linnen, Catherine R. (Primary Mentor) Institution: University Of Kentucky CO-PD: PD/PI 3 Name (Last, First, MI) Institution: CO-PD: PD/PI 4 Name (Last, First, MI) Institution: CO-PD: PD/PI 5 Name (Last, First, MI) Institution: CO-PD: PD/PI 6 Name (Last, First, MI) Institution: CO-PD: PD/PI 7 Name (Last, First, MI) Institution: Predoctoral Application Project Type: Research AFRI Farm Bill Priority Area: Plant Health and Production and Plant Products The plant-penetrating ovipositor is the most economically important animal structure. As the ovipositor is a direct conduit in which an insect interfaces with its environment, the structures of the ovipositor in many instances have evolved for oviposition on a specific plant host. While damage to the plant is primarily inflicted through feeding using the mandibles, the life cycle of an insect pest begins with oviposition on the plant host. As such, an understanding of the genetics underlying ovipositor traits could give insight into how insect pests colonize and spread to new plant hosts. Yet we have a very limited knowledge of the genotypes linked to the phenotypes of the plant- penetrating ovipositor. To make these connections I will utilize a pair of sawflies, Neodiprion lecontei and N. pinetum, which oviposit on different pine species of commercial importance. I will 1) correlate genotype to phenotype and assess the genetic architecture of ovipositor traits through quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping; and 2) cross-reference QTL regions with differential gene expression across multiple timepoints of ovipositor development to establish a list of ovipositor candidate genes. This data will greatly enhance our understanding of the genetics of the plant- penetrating ovipositor and give insight into how evolutionary forces could shape it based on its underlying genetic architecture. This knowledge can be used to formulate novel pest management strategies using cutting-edge technology and will provide opportunities to educate the public on how genomics can play a role towards advancing sustainable agricultural practices, meeting the EWD “Advancing Science” goal. This file MUST be converted to PDF prior to attachment in the electronic application package.