title: Agricultural applications of insect ecological genomics.
abstract: Agricultural entomology is poised to benefit from the application of ecological genomics, particularly the fields of biofuels generation and pest control. Metagenomic methods can characterize microbial communities of termites, wood-boring beetles and livestock pests, and transcriptomic approaches reveal molecular bases behind wood-digesting capabilities of these insects, leading to potential mechanisms for biofuel generation. Genome sequences are being exploited to develop new pest control methods, identify candidate antigens to vaccinate livestock, and discover RNAi target sequences and potential non-target effects in other insects. Gene content analyses of pest genome sequences and their endosymbionts suggest metabolic interdependencies between organisms, exposing potential gene targets for insect control. Finally, genome-wide association studies and genotyping by high-throughput sequencing promise to improve management of pesticide resistance.
authors.affiliation: USDA-ARS, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705, United States. Electronic address: Monica.poelchau@ars.usda.gov.
authors.forename: Monica F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Poelchau
authors.affiliation: USDA-ARS, Corn Insects & Crop Genetics Research Unit, Ames, IA 50011, United States.
authors.forename: Brad S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Coates
authors.affiliation: USDA-ARS, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705, United States.
authors.forename: Christopher P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Childers
authors.affiliation: USDA-ARS, Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, Kerrville, TX 78028, United States.
authors.forename: Adalberto A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Peréz de León
authors.affiliation: USDA-ARS, Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705, United States.
authors.forename: Jay D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: USDA-ARS, Office of National Programs, Crop Production and Protection, Beltsville, MD 20705, United States.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hackett
authors.affiliation: USDA-ARS, Imported Fire Ant and Household Insects Research Unit, Gainesville, FL 32608, United States. Electronic address: dewayne.shoemaker@ars.usda.gov.
authors.forename: DeWayne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shoemaker
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D000818:Animals; D049750:Genome, Insect / Q000235:genetics*; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D023281:Genomics / Q000639:trends; D007300:Insect Control / Q000379:methods*; D007313:Insecta / Q000235:genetics