FACTORS MEDIATING LONG TERM SUCCESS IN A BIOLOGICAL CONTROL INTRODUCTION

The USDA-NIFA fellowship willallow me to continue expanding my skillset by collaborating with cross-disciplinary teams, publishing scientific and extension articles, and mentoring students. I will expand my extramural funding record by seeking funding from local and regional stakeholders such as the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission both independently and collaboratively. Most importantly, this fellowship gives me the opportunity to develop a research project that pushes my skills to integrate functional genomics and microbiology into my research repertoire through mentoring by Drs. Rebecca Schmidt-Jeffris, William Walker (USDA-ARS) and Amelia Lindsey (University of Minnesota).Objectives:Determine the population genomic history of was establishment and spread.Examine the impact of genotype andWolbachiainfection onT. insidiosuslife history traits and parasitism of pear psylla.Investigate what impact climate change will have onWolbachiainfection inT. insidiosus.