Feeding Delivery of dsHvSnf7 Is a Promising Method for Management of the Pest Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Abstract

RNA interference (RNAi) techniques have emerged as powerful tools in the development of novel management strategies for the control of insect pests, such as Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata, which is a major solanaceous pest in Asia. Our results showed that levels of HvSnf7 expression were greater in larval midguts than in other tissues. Silencing of HvSnf7 led to greater H. vigintioctopunctata mortality rates and appeared to be time- and partially dose-dependent. Bacterially expressed dsHvSnf7 that was applied to detached plant leaves caused 98, 88, and 60% mortality in 1st and 3rd instars, and adults after 10, 12, and 14 d, respectively; when applied to living plants, bacterially expressed dsHvSnf7 led to mortality in 1st and 3rd instars, with no effect on adults. Bacterially expressed dsHvSnf7 led to improved plant protection against H. vigintioctopunctata. Ultrastructural changes caused by HvSnf7-RNAi in larval midguts showed extensive loss of cellular contents that indicate loss of membrane integrity. This study indicate that HvSnf7 potentially can be used as RNAi target gene for controlling of H. vigintioctopunctata.

De Novo Assembly of the Asian Citrus Psyllid Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) Transcriptome across Developmental Stages

“…The success of RNAi-based strategies in future pest management will rely on the identification of essential target genes that confer lethal phenotypic effects upon knockdown [ 28 ]. Generally, functional genes involved in insect development, metamorphosis, or key metabolic processes may be suitable RNAi targets as part of control strategies of insects [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 ]. Previous studies have shown that trehalase plays pivotal roles in various physiological processes, including energy metabolism [ 34 ], chitin synthesis during molting [ 35 ], and diapause [ 36 ].…”

“…RNA interference (RNAi) technology is a powerful tool for functional studies that can be used to selectively suppress the expression of target genes both in vitro and in vivo [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ]. RNA interference has been widely explored as an alternative to conventional management methods for controlling insect pests [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ].…”

“…RNA interference (RNAi) technology is a powerful tool for functional studies that can be used to selectively suppress the expression of target genes both in vitro and in vivo [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ]. RNA interference has been widely explored as an alternative to conventional management methods for controlling insect pests [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ]. For example, bacterially expressed double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) from the lesswright ( lwr ) gene of Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata was applied to eggplant leaves and caused 88% mortality for the 1st larvae of H. vigintioctopunctata , 66% mortality for the 3rd instar larvae, and 36% mortality to the adults after 10 d, 10 d, and 14 d of application, respectively [ 15 ].…”

Lab-to-Field Transition of RNA Spray Applications – How Far Are We?

“…Host-induced gene silencing-mediated control of insect pests has been proven effective with an average of 50% conferred resistance (Koch and Wassenegger, 2021). Exogenous dsRNA and siRNA applications (e.g., feeding, injection, and oral delivery) to various insect pests and mites is routinely conducted to study gene function or identify RNAi targets (Lü et al, 2020;Mehlhorn et al, 2020Mehlhorn et al, , 2021Máximo et al, 2020). In line with the above discussion about RNAs that remain on sprayed surfaces and those that enter plant cells, insect pests and mites can ingest dsRNA and siRNAs by chewing-biting or piercing-sucking feeding behaviors.…”

A Protective dsRNA is Crucial for Optimum RNAi Gene Silencing in Chilo partellus

“…The RNAi mechanism is currently applied in controlling Agricultural pests. Recent advances in RNAi technology have drastically increased knowledge on the RNAi mechanism and gene knockdown in several insects (Lü et al 2019;Vogel et al 2019;Adeyinka et al 2020;Husain et al 2021;Jain et al 2021). Scientists are currently improving the dsRNA delivery mode because the internalization of dsRNA is vital for effective RNAi in insects.…”