The genus Ditylenchus includes 2 of the most destructive plant parasitic nematodes: Ditylenchus destructor Thorne, potato rot nematode, and D. dipasci (Khun), the stem and bulb nematode. Both species are internationally regulated pests. In Canada, D. dipaci, is causing great loss to garlic (Allium sativum); while in China D. destructor is the most devastating pest on sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas). With focus on the 2 species, the proposed taxonomy studies will provide much needed updated information on the species distributions in both countries, which will be valuable for both countries in establishing steps for fighting the invasive nematode species.
Value of the Opportunity (issue, results, outcomes)/Valeur ajoutée de l’opportunité (problème, résultats, retombées):
D. destructor from China is a potential threat to Canadian potato industry, while D. dipsaci from Canada, a threat to China’s garlic. Morphologically, these 2 species are similar, with some morphometric values and their host ranges overlapping, and races of both species are exist, a comprehensive systematic study, and a molecular study will provide some clarifications. Manuscript(s) will be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. The data also will be part of the PhD thesis for the candidate.
D – Describe the qualifications needed (academic, study, knowledge, skills, experiences, etc.), and the benefits to the candidate /Décrire les qualifications requises (études, connaissances, compétences, expériences, etc) et les avantages pour les candidats
Qualifications of the candidate: a PhD candidate enrolled in a recognized university preferably in China, some knowledge of nematode biology, and nematode classification, skills in manipulating nematodes, and research experiences on D. destructor on sweet potato in China.
Benefits to the candidate: the candidate will learn how to become a researcher, and gain some advanced knowledge of nematode taxonomy through accessing the Canadian National Collection of Nematodes, and skills in nematode researches.
Type of Candidate (check one or more)/Type de candidats (choisir un ou plusieurs) :
Graduate students / étudiants des cycles supérieurs:
- Ph.D.
Visiting Scientist from a university or a research organisation/Chercheur visiteur provenant d’une université ou d’un organisme de recherche.
Visitor expected length of stay at AAFC, specify number of months (minimum and/or maximum)/
Durée prévue du séjour du visiteur à AAC, spécifier le nombre de mois (minimum et/ou maximum) :
12-24
Start date must be before March 31, 2012/
Date impérative de début du séjour avant le 31 mars 2012, specify/spécifier :
October 2011
Research location in Canada / Lieu de la recherche au Canada :
Soils and Crops Research and Development Centre
Website : http://www.agr.gc.ca/science
City/Ville, Province :
Québec City, Québec
Contact:
Marie-Josée Simard
Email/Courriel : marie-josee.simard@agr.gc.ca
Phone/Téléphone : 1-418-210-5044
B – The Research Team/ L’équipe de recherche
AAFC Supervisor/Superviseur à AAC : Dr. Marie-Josée Simard
Other AAFC scientists/Autres chercheurs d’AAC : Stephen Darbyshire (botanist), Rob Nurse (weed ecologist)
University partners/Partenaires universitaires : Claude Lavoie (ecologist)
Industry partners/Partenaires industriels :
C – Proposal Description/ Description de la proposition
Objective/Objectif:
The general objective of this project is to evaluate the impact of road networks on the distribution of invasive plants in the agricultural landscape.
Value of the Opportunity (issue, results, outcomes)/Valeur de l’opportunité (problème, résultats, retombées):
A striking number of invasive species are plants and the economic loss attributed to these plants in North America has been estimated at more than $40 billion annually. Canadian landscapes, including agricultural land are not spared from these invasions. Darbyshire (2002) estimated that 1-2 new species of weeds become established in Canada every year and that this rate is increasing. Road networks could be contributing to the spread of species into crops and agricultural landscape (hedgerows). Documenting the historical and actual spread of species like Pastinaca sativa in Canada would provide information on the dynamics involved in the spread of roadside weeds in agro-ecosystems.
Results would be achieved by analysing data from herbarium records and surveys of field edges and roadsides as well as evaluating the potential use of hyperspectral data. Two papers could be prepared during this training: 1) Evaluation of Pastinaca sativa spread using historical herbarium records and 2) Effect of roadside proximity on the abundance of invasive plants in field hedgerows.
The training is scheduled from October 2011 to October 2013 and will be organised as follows:
October 2011-December 2011: Literature review and herbarium data collection
January 2012-April 2012: Data analysis and writing of first manuscript.
May 2012-September 2012: Literature review and field data collection.
September 2012- October 2013: Data analysis and writing of second manuscript.
The research will be very useful in understanding and preventing the future spread of invasive plants into agricultural landscapes. The research will also provide guidelines for hedgerow management to producers and roadside vegetation management to the institutions concerned.
D – Describe the qualifications needed (academic, study, knowledge, skills, experiences, etc.), and the benefits to the candidate /Décrire les qualifications requises (études, connaissances, compétences, expériences, etc) et les avantages pour les candidats
The student should be registered in a Ph.D. program in weed science, biology (botany) or related plant science program in a recognized Chinese university. The visiting scientist should be from a recognized Chinese university or research organisation and have a background in weed science, biology (botany) or related plant science program. The selected student should have a good knowledge of plant taxonomy, data collection and statistical analysis. The selected student should also have some experience in mapping (GIS).
The project will be an excellent opportunity for the student/scientist to learn about Canadian weeds and landscapes. The student/scientist would collaborate with weed scientists (Marie-Josée Simard, Rob Nurse), a botanist with an international reputation (Stephen Darbyshire) and an ecologist of plant invasions (Claude Lavoie).
OPPORTUNITY/OPPORTUNITÉ ID:
2011_Québec_04b
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PROPOSAL TITLE/TITRE DE LA PROPOSITION : Traits associated with the invasion of an exotic weed
A – Identification
Type of Candidate (check one or more)/Type de candidats (choisir un ou plusieurs) :
Graduate students / étudiants des cycles supérieurs:
- Ph.D.
Visiting Scientist from a university or a research organisation/Chercheur visiteur provenant d’une université ou d’un organisme de recherche.
Visitor expected length of stay at AAFC, specify number of months (minimum and/or maximum)/
Durée prévue du séjour du visiteur à AAC, spécifier le nombre de mois (minimum et/ou maximum) :
12-24
Start date must be before March 31, 2012/
Date impérative de début du séjour avant le 31 mars 2012, specify/spécifier :
October 2011
Research location in Canada / Lieu de la recherche au Canada :
Soils and Crops Research and Development Centre
Website : http://www.agr.gc.ca/science
City/Ville, Province :
Québec City, Québec
Contact:
Marie-Josée Simard
Email/Courriel : marie-josee.simard@agr.gc.ca
Phone/Téléphone : 418-210-5044
B – The Research Team/ L’équipe de recherche
AAFC Supervisor/Superviseur à AAC : Dr. Marie-Josée Simard
Other AAFC scientists/Autres chercheurs d’AAC : Drs. Stephen Darbyshire, Subbaiah Mechanda
University partners/Partenaires universitaires :
Industry partners/Partenaires industriels :
C – Proposal Description/ Description de la proposition
Objective/Objectif :
The general objective of this project is to assess genetically based differences in size, fecundity and phenology of life history traits and between native (Chinese) and introduced (invasive in Canada) genotypes of weeds.
Value of the Opportunity (issue, results, outcomes)/Valeur ajoutée de l’opportunité (problème, résultats, retombées):
Eriochloa villosa is an annual grass of East Asian origin (China and bordering countries). It is an important weed of corn and soybean crops now present in 11 U.S. states particularly in corn production areas. It is not consistently controlled by herbicides, increasing production costs by 18%. The spread of the species could have an estimated impact of up to 285 million $/year in Canada (CFIA 2008). It was discovered in Canada for the first time in 2001. A team of 13 participants including national (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) and provincial (Québec Ministry of Agriculture) experts are now on the E. villosa case.
The invasiveness of the species would be evaluated by comparing quantitative traits of the species in its native (China) and introduced range (Canada – U.S.) in (potentially) a reciprocal common garden experiment to determine if there are genetically based differences that suggest that the species has adapted to North American conditions i.e. evolution of competitive ability (EICA) hypothesis.
One or two papers would be prepared during this training on genetically based differences between native and invasive Eriochloa villosa populations.
The training is scheduled from October 2011 to October 2013 and will be organised as follows:
October 2011-May 2012: Literature review, planning of experiment.
April 2012-October 2012: Common garden or greenhouse experiment, data collection and analyses
November 2012-October 2013: Laboratory experiment, manuscript writing
The research will be very useful in understanding and preventing the future spread of invasive plants. The research will also provide guidelines for the management of Eriochloa villosa in China and Canada.
D – Describe the qualifications needed (academic, study, knowledge, skills, experiences, etc.), and the benefits to the candidate /Décrire les qualifications requises (études, connaissances, compétences, expériences, etc) et les avantages pour les candidats
The student should be registered in a Ph.D. program in weed science, biology (botany) or related plant science program in a recognized Chinese university. The visiting scientist should be from a recognized Chinese university or research organisation and have a background in weed science, biology (botany), genetics or related plant science program. The selected student should have a good knowledge of plant data collection and analysis. The selected student should also have experience in the establishment of experimental plots in fields or in the greenhouse.
The project will be an excellent opportunity for the student/scientist to learn about weeds, invasive plants and weed management in Canada. The student/scientist would be part of a multidisciplinary team and collaborate with regulatory agencies, Canadian and U.S. researchers, as well as provincial agronomists. The student/scientist will facilitate collaboration and exchanges between China and Canada on this weed.
