Populus alba x Populus glandulosa 'QB3' and Populus nigra x P. deltoides 'Ta' Raw sequence reads
Under field conditions, the Populus alba x Populus glandulosa 'QB3' poplar cultivar demonstrates rapid growth and exceptional trunk straightness, while exhibiting strong resistance to adult Asian longhorned beetle (ALB, Anoplophora glabripennis) infestations. Additionally, a Euro-American hybrid: Populus nigra x P. deltoides 'Ta' was introduced from Italy to China. Despite its exceptionally rapid growth rate, this cultivar paradoxically serves as a highly preferred nutritional source for adult ALB, making it particularly vulnerable to infestation. The aim of this project is to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the strikingly different feeding preferences of ALB between QB3 and Ta.