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Project properties |
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| Title | Filedwork in Spain: Do bacteria cause problems for biocontrol of aphids in Almeria, Spain? |
| Group | Genetics, Laboratory of |
| Project type | thesis |
| Credits | 30-36 ects |
| Supervisor(s) | Bart Pannebakker, Sarra Bouagga (Koppert Spain) |
| Examiner(s) | Bas Zwaan |
| Contact info | Bart Pannebakker, bart.pannebakker@wur.nl |
| Begin date | 2024/01/01 |
| End date | 2024/06/01 |
| Description | Aphids are problematic pests in many greenhouse crop systems. To control aphids in a biologically sustainable way, natural predators and parasitoids can be deployed. The use of biological aphid control however is not always successful, and growers often opt for the use of pesticides to suppress the pest populations. One possible explanation of the insufficient success of biological aphid control might be the presence of protective bacterial endosymbionts in the aphids. To increase their own fitness, these bacteria prevent the development of parasitoid wasp larvae in aphids, thereby hampering these aphids resistant to these biocontrol agents.
Our previous research has shown that endosymbionts are not a major factor in Dutch greenhouses. However, endosymbionts are expected to play a bigger role in Spain, were the aphid community is different, with Macrosiphum euphorbiae being the most important aphid in pepper greenhouses. First tests suggest the presence of an endosymbiont, in combination with reports on resistance to parasitoid wasps. As these results are in an early stage, we want to further investigate the occurrence of endosymbionts in Spanish aphid populations, and their role in the performance of biocontrol parasitoid wasps in pepper greenhouses. What? This project is a combination of fieldwork in Southern Spain (Almeria region), and molecular work in Wageningen. The fieldwork consists of collecting aphids around Almeria and Campo de Cartagena, setting up aphid cultures, and doing bioassays with parasitoids. The molecular work involves PCR-based identification of endosymbionts. When? Best time to do this work in Spain is when problems with the aphids are most severe, February to April, possibly extending into May. Logistics: The work in Spain will take place in the R&D centers of Koppert Spain, the leading biological control company in the world. The R&D centers are based in Almeria and in Campo de Cartagena, and both centers are experienced with hosting MSc students, including students from Wageningen. The Koppert Spain team can help you finding accommodation, and you will be entitled to a modest renumeration while you are in Spain. |
| Used skills | Fieldwork: insect collecting in agricultural setting (pepper greenhouses), insect rearing, biocontrol bioassays
Molecular work: DNA extraction, primer design, PCR, sequencing, gel electrophoresis General: this is a thesis/internship outside of the Netherlands, so you will learn how to work and live in another country |
| Requirements | BSc course in (insect) ecology and molecular methods, for instance GEN-20306 (can be discussed). Due to the nature of the field work, a drivers license is required |