Mrs Afroja Rahman1, Dr Wei Xu1, Dr Jing Li2, Prof Jacqueline Batley2

1School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia, 2School of Biological Sciences and Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia

Biography:

After finishing my BSc (Hons) in Agriculture from Bangladesh Agricultural University, I undertook my MSc in Forest Resources from Chungnam National University. Later on, I was awarded a Presidential Fellowship from Chiang Mai University for an MSc in Entomology. I was awarded an RTP scholarship from Murdoch University for my PhD. Currently, I am in my third year of a PhD and working on insect response to canola with modified sterol metabolism.

I was awarded the 3rd prize for oral presentation in “The 10th China-Japan-Korea Graduate Student Forum: Life, Environment, and Resources.” I also won the runner-up prize for the three-minute thesis from Murdoch University.

Abstract:

Canola ranks as the third-largest crop grown in Australia; its primary producer, Western Australia, provides half of the country’s annual output of 4 million tonnes. However, canola confronts numerous challenges from insect pests, especially the diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella, and the green peach aphid (GPA), Myzus persicae. These pests have developed resistance due to the extensive use of chemical pesticides and insecticides. Innovative, more environmentally friendly pest control methods are needed to address these issues. The development of genetically modified (GMO) canola cultivars with modified sterol contents is one promising approach. The biology of herbivorous insects is greatly influenced by sterols, especially phytosterols, which have an impact on various aspects of the insects' life cycle, development, reproduction, and dietary preferences.

This project aims to investigate insect (GPA and DBM) responses, including feeding preference, effects on their life cycles, and molecular responses, to canola with modified sterol profiles. Three GMO canola lines and wild-type canola serve as controls. A choice-feeding bioassay is conducted to assess insect preferences between GMO and control canola. Preliminary results showed that there were no significant differences in GPA feeding preference between GMO and control canola, whereas DBM showed a significant preference. Significant differences were observed in the life cycles of GPA and DBM when comparing GMO and control canola. This study has the potential to improve our knowledge of the interactions between insects and plants, which will help develop more sustainable and environmentally friendly pest management techniques.

Keywords: GMO, Harbivorous, Insecticides, Modified sterol, Phytosterols