The role of genomes in advancing biological control research

This talk was given at the 2018 ESA/ESC/ESBC Joint Meeting in Vancouver, Canada, at the Member Session, “Rapid evolution in biological control systems: implications for safety and effectiveness” on November 11th, 2018<br>Abstract:<br>While initially confined to the realm of model species (such as <i>Nasonia</i> and <i>Drosophila</i>), genome sequencing, assembly, and annotation is becoming more accessible and feasible for <i>de novo </i>projects. There are several uses for the genomes of biocontrol agents, including for the purpose of improvement or risk assessment. For instance, is it possible to make a zoophytophagous mirid predator like <i>Nesidiocoris tenuis</i> less phytophagous via selection? Or when releasing a parasitoid wasp like <i>Trichogramma brassicae</i> into the field, is it possible to track different species as well as strains of the same species the next season? While very different biocontrol agents, and very different questions, both could be addressed using genomes and the types of data generated by genome projects. Moreover, published genomes become a common good, accessible to all researchers who wish to use it, thus opening several avenues of research previously unavailable. Here, I will highlight the role of genomes in advancing biocontrol research, using examples from our work on the sequencing, assembly, and annotation of the genomes of three biocontrol agents: the mirid bug <i>Nesidiocoris tenuis</i>, the parasitoid wasp <i>Trichogramma brassicae,</i> as well as the predatory mite <i>Amblyseius swirskii</i>.