Large-scale genome-wide study reveals climate adaptive variability in a cosmopolitan pest

Yanting Chen, Zhaoxia Liu, Jacques Régnière, Liette Vasseur, Jian Lin, Shiguo Huang, Fushi Ke, Shaoping Chen, Jianyu Li, Jieling Huang, Geoff M. Gurr (), Minsheng You () and Shijun You ()
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Yanting Chen: State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University
Zhaoxia Liu: State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University
Jacques Régnière: Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service
Liette Vasseur: State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University
Jian Lin: College of Computer and Information Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University
Shiguo Huang: College of Computer and Information Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University
Fushi Ke: State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University
Shaoping Chen: State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University
Jianyu Li: State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University
Jieling Huang: State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University
Geoff M. Gurr: State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University
Minsheng You: State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University
Shijun You: State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Understanding the genetic basis of climatic adaptation is essential for predicting species’ responses to climate change. However, intraspecific variation of these responses arising from local adaptation remains ambiguous for most species. Here, we analyze genomic data from diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) collected from 75 sites spanning six continents to reveal that climate-associated adaptive variation exhibits a roughly latitudinal pattern. By developing an eco-genetic index that combines genetic variation and physiological responses, we predict that most P. xylostella populations have high tolerance to projected future climates. Using genome editing, a key gene, PxCad, emerged from our analysis as functionally temperature responsive. Our results demonstrate that P. xylostella is largely capable of tolerating future climates in most of the world and will remain a global pest beyond 2050. This work improves our understanding of adaptive variation along environmental gradients, and advances pest forecasting by highlighting the genetic basis for local climate adaptation.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27510-2

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