Research Summary

The Jander Lab uses genetic and biochemical approaches to study plant-insect interactions and plant amino acid metabolism. We employ the small crucifer Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) as a model system for most of our research.

Myzus persicae (green peach aphids) feeding on an Arabidopsis flower stalk.

Plant-insect interactions

The phloem-specific feeding style of aphids poses unique challenges, both to the host plants, which must mount defense responses against herbivores that do little overt damage, and to the aphids, which must adapt to a nutritionally imbalanced and potentially toxic food source. Myzus persicae (green peach aphids) are important agricultural pests and also feed readily from Arabidopsis. We are studying plant recognition of M. persicae salivary components, Arabidopsis gene expression changes induced during aphid feeding, and plant secondary metabolites that contribute to aphid defense. On the aphid side of the interaction, our goals are to identify M. persicae enzymes that detoxify plant metabolites, as well as aphid gene expression changes that are induced in response to plant defenses.