Ingested RNA interference for managing the populations of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata.
BACKGROUND
RNA interference (RNAi) is a breakthrough technology for conducting functional genomics studies and also as a potential tool for crop protection against insect pests. The major challenge for efficient pest control using RNAi in the field is the development of efficient and reliable methods for production and delivery of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). In this paper, the potential of feeding dsRNA expressed in bacteria or synthesized in vitro to manage populations of Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) (CPB), was investigated.


RESULTS
Feeding RNAi successfully triggered the silencing of all five target genes tested and caused significant mortality and reduced body weight gain in the treated beetles. This study provides the first example of an effective RNAi response in insects after feeding dsRNA produced in bacteria.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the efficient induction of RNAi using bacteria to deliver dsRNA is a possible method for management of CPB. This could be also a promising bioassay approach for genome-wide screens to identify effective target genes for use as novel RNAi-based insecticides.
Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA.
Fang
F
Zhu
Jingjing
J
Xu
Roshan
R
Palli
Joseph
J
Ferguson
Subba R
SR
Palli
D000818:Animals; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D004435:Eating; D007300:Insect Control / Q000379:methods*; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D034622:RNA Interference; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011198:Solanum tuberosum / Q000469:parasitology*
D019476:Insect Proteins; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded