Host generated siRNAs attenuate expression of serine protease gene in Myzus persicae.
BACKGROUND
Sap sucking hemipteran aphids damage diverse crop species. Although delivery of ds-RNA or siRNA through microinjection/feeding has been demonstrated, the efficacy of host-mediated delivery of aphid-specific dsRNA in developing aphid resistance has been far from being elucidated.


RESULTS
Transgenic Arabidopsis expressing ds-RNA of Myzus persicae serine protease (MySP) was developed that triggered the generation of corresponding siRNAs amenable for delivery to the feeding aphids. M. persicae when fed on the transgenic plants for different time intervals under controlled growth conditions resulted in a significant attenuation of the expression of MySP and a commensurate decline in gut protease activity. Although the survivability of these aphids was not affected, there was a noticeable decline in their fecundity resulting in a significant reduction in parthenogenetic population.


CONCLUSIONS
The study highlighted the feasibility of developing host based RNAi-mediated resistance against hemipteran pest aphids.
National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute Campus, New Delhi, India.
Varnika
V
Bhatia
Ramcharan
R
Bhattacharya
Prem L
PL
Uniyal
Rajendra
R
Singh
Rampal S
RS
Niranjan
D000818:Animals; D001042:Aphids / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000469:parasitology; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics*; D057057:Serine Proteases / Q000235:genetics*
D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D057057:Serine Proteases