Mariana Garcia

I am a master's student from the Molecular Biology and Genetics MSc at FCUL. I am now carrying out my thesis "What is the role of the microbiota in the interplay between spider mites and their host plants?" in the MITE2 laboratory under the supervision of Leonor Rodrigues. This study aims to compare the microbiota composition of Tetranychus evansi populations at different time points of infestation, comparing wild-type and mutant; whether the microbiota mediates the suppression of defences after the mites being fed on antibiotic-treated or untreated leaves; and determine whether the herbivore-associated microbiota is transferred to the plant via oral secretions during feeding.