The mealworm beetle Tenebrio molitor is a promising alternative protein source for nutrition. Optimizing its mass production at an industrial scale requires a better knowledge of the evolution of the major life history traits of T. molitor and their trade-offs. Growth rate is critical as its variation is expected to affect long-term individual self-maintenance (e.g. immunity), survival and reproduction. This project aims to analyse the consequences of variation in growth rate on these major life history traits of T. molitor with the ultimate applied objective of designing management strategies to optimize its production. We will investigate the costs of growth on senescence traits (by manipulating growth’s environment and characterize traits in 17 inbred lines). We will also test the impact of growth rate variation on immunity. We will finally investigate the molecular bases of life history traits, by building the genetic linkage map and detect the QTLs for the traits of interest.
Monsieur Yannick MORET (BIOGEOSCIENCES - UMR 6282)
The author of this summary is the project coordinator, who is responsible for the content of this summary. The ANR declines any responsibility as for its contents.
GM UMR 8030/Genoscope Genomique métabolique/Institut de biologie François Jacob / CEA/ Paris-Saclay
BGS BIOGEOSCIENCES - UMR 6282
YNSECT
Help of the ANR 449,438 euros
Beginning and duration of the scientific project:
September 2021
- 48 Months
