Improving molecular techniques for identifying pests to meet the diagnostic needs of the agricultural industry in the context of climate change

Annabelle Firlej

Researcher

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Contact Annabelle Firlej

Description

Climate change will encourage certain crop pests, increase the range of others, and allow exotic species to establish in Québec. Correctly identifying them is a challenge because certain pest groups require a molecular approach. Barcoding can be used to obtain DNA sequences from specimens kept in the official Québec government insect collection (MFFP-MAPAQ) and compare these sequences with those from field-caught specimens.

Objective(s)

Use biomolecular analyses to identify pests in the collection whose DNA sequences are not included in the public database.
Analyze identified, referenced specimens in the collection to catalog their DNA sequences using the PCR technique.

From 2015 to 2017

Project duration

Pest, weed, and disease control, Ecosystem protection

Services

This project will help farmers deal with the emergence of new invasive insect pests in the context of climate change.

Partners

Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec | Prime-Vert Programme | Centre de recherche sur les grains

Publications

Research report • Annabelle Firlej

Dieni, A., A. Firlej. 2018. Amélioration des techniques d’identification moléculaires des ravageurs pour répondre aux besoins en diagnostic du secteur agricole dans le contexte des changements climatiques. IRDA. 37 p. Download

Summary sheet • Franz Vanoosthuyse, Daniel Cormier, Annabelle Firlej

Dieni A., F. Vanoosthuyse, D. Cormier, J.P. Légaré, M. Fréchette, A. Firlej. 2018. Amélioration des techniques d’identification moléculaires des ravageurs pour répondre aux besoins en diagnostic du secteur agricole dans le contexte des changements climatiques. IRDA. 2 p. Download

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