title: RNA interference for the control of whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) by oral route.
abstract: RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated gene silencing was explored for the control of sap-sucking pest Bemisia tabaci, commonly known as whitefly. dsRNAs and siRNAs were synthesized from five different genes - actin ortholog, ADP/ATP translocase, alpha-tubulin, ribosomal protein L9 (RPL9) and V-ATPase A subunit. A simplified insect bioassay method was developed for the delivery of ds/siRNA through the oral route, and efficacy was evaluated. ds/siRNA caused 29-97% mortality after 6 days of feeding. Each insect ingested nearly 150 nl of insect diet per day, which contained a maximum of 6 ng of RNA. Knocking down the expression of RPL9 and V-ATPase A caused higher mortality with LC50 11.21 and 3.08 microg/ml, respectively, as compared to other genes. Semi-quantitative PCR of the treated insects showed significant decrease in the level of RPL9 and V-ATPase A transcripts. siRNAs were found stable in the insect diet for at least 7 days at the room temperature. Phloem-specific expression of dsRNAs of RPL9 and V-ATPase A in transgenic plants for the protection against whiteflies might be an interesting application of this technology.
authors: National Botanical Research Institute (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research), Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow 226 001, India.
authors: Santosh Kumar
authors: SK
authors: Upadhyay
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Chandrashekar
authors: Nidhi
authors: N
authors: Thakur
authors: Praveen Chandra
authors: PC
authors: Verma
authors: J Francis
authors: JF
authors: Borgio
authors: Pradhyumna Kumar
authors: PK
authors: Singh
authors: Rakesh
authors: R
authors: Tuli
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006430:Hemiptera / Q000235:genetics*; D007300:Insect Control / Q000379:methods*; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D000226:Mitochondrial ADP, ATP Translocases / Q000235:genetics; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D014404:Tubulin / Q000235:genetics; D025262:Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D017931:DNA Primers; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins; D014404:Tubulin; C049650:ribosomal protein L9; D000226:Mitochondrial ADP, ATP Translocases; D025262:Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases