GABP technical platform

The « Greenhouse, Arthropod Breeding and Phenotyping » (GABP) technical platform aims to produce and phenotype a wide range of biological models.

Around twenty staff (researchers, engineers and technicians) are involved in the activities of this platform, and regularly use its facilities, particularly for breeding and phenotyping harmful species. The main models currently being studied are Drosophila suzukii (the spotted wing drosophila), Ostrinia nubilalis (the European corn borer), Schistocerca gregaria (the desert locust), thrips of the Frankliniella genus, the aphid Myzus persicae, and mites of the Tetranychidae and Eriophyidae families.

Operations manager, maintenance manager and scientific manager
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Nicolas LEMENAGER
Engineer, Cirad
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Nicolas LEMENAGER
Engineer, Cirad
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SERRATE Bruno
Bruno SERRATE
Technician, INRAE
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Bruno SERRATE
Technician, INRAE
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FRAGO Enric
Enric FRAGO
Researcher, Cirad
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Enric FRAGO
Researcher, Cirad
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Main equipment

The GABP technical platform consists mainly of 13 climate chambers (3 to 5 m2 each) and 11 mobile climate chambers. These different structures enable arthropod models to be reared and experimented on at controlled temperature, lighting and humidity. The platform is also equipped with equipment specially dedicated to phenotyping: temperature-controlled fridges, video-tracking equipment, scales, binocular magnifiers and 3D printers.

A greenhouse is integrated into the platform and is used to produce plant material for the phytophagous insects studied.

Operation and budget

The platform is accessible to all potential CBGP users and, secondarily, to external collaborators on specific joint projects. It is currently used for around ten research projects.

In addition to financial support from the community, users of the plateau pay an annual entrance fee and then a subscription fee based on the number of structures used. The platform therefore has its own budget, which is mainly funded by project sponsors. This budget can be supplemented by requests for equipment from our supervisory bodies.

Latest publications
Walzer A., Formayer H. & Tixier M.-S. 2020. Evidence of trans-generational developmental modifications induced by simulated heat waves in an arthropod. Scientific Reports 10 : 4098. (https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-61040-z)
Guilhot R., Fellous S. & Cohen J.E. 2020. Yeast facilitates the multiplication of Drosophila bacterial symbionts but has no effect on the form or parameters of Taylor’s law. PLoS ONE 15 : e0242692. (https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0242692)
Guilhot R., Rombaut A., Xuereb A., Howell K. & Fellous S. 2020. Environmental specificity in Drosophila-bacteria symbiosis affects host developmental plasticity. Evolutionary Ecology 34 : 693-712. (https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10682-020-10068-8)
Foucaud J., Hufbauer R., Ravigné V., Olazcuaga L., Loiseau A., Ausset A., Wang S., Zang L.-S., Leménager N., Tayeh A., Weyna A., Gneux P., Bonnet E., Dreuilhe V., Poutout B., Estoup A. & Facon B. 2020. How do invasion syndromes evolve? An experimental evolution approach using the ladybirdbug Harmonia axyridis. PCI Evolutionary Biology bioRxiv 849968 : peer-reviewed and recommended by PCI Evolutionary Biology. (https://dx.doi.org/10.24072/pci.evolbiol.100096)
Maeno K.O., Piou C., Ould Ely S., Ould Mohamed S.A., Jaavar M.E.H., Ghaout S. & Babah Ebbe M.A.O. 2021. Density-dependent mating behaviors reduce male mating harassment in locusts. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA 118 : e2104673118. (https://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2104673118)
Olazcuaga* L., Foucaud J., Gautier M., Deschamps C., Loiseau A., Leménager N., Facon B., Ravigné V., Hufbauer R.A., Estoup A. & Rode N.O. 2021. Adaptation and correlated fitness responses over two time scales in Drosophila suzukii populations evolving in different environments. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 34 : 1225-1240. (https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jeb.13878)