title: In vitro antifungal activity of synthetic dsRNA molecules against two pathogens of banana, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense and Mycosphaerella fijiensis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A key challenge for designing RNAi-based crop protection strategies is the identification of effective target genes in the pathogenic organism. In this study, in vitro antifungal activities of a set of synthetic double-stranded RNA molecules on spore germination of two major pathogenic fungi of banana, Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht f. sp. cubense WC Snyder & HN Hans (Foc) and Mycosphaerella fijiensis Morelet (Mf) were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the tested synthetic dsRNAs successfully triggered the silencing of target genes and displayed varying degrees of potential to inhibit spore germination of both tested banana pathogens. When Foc dsRNAs were applied to Foc spores, inhibition ranged from 79.8 to 93.0%, and from 19.9 to 57.8% when Foc dsRNAs were applied to Mf spores. However, when Mf dsRNAs were applied on Mf spores, inhibition ranged from 34.4 to 72.3%, and from 89.7 to 95.9% when Mf dsRNAs were applied to Foc spores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The dsRNAs for adenylate cyclase, DNA polymerase alpha subunit and DNA polymerase delta subunit showed high levels of spore germination inhibition during both self- and cross-species tests, making them the most promising targets for RNA-mediated resistance in banana against these fungal pathogens. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: National Banana Research Programme, National Agriculture Research Organisation, Kampala, Uganda. francismumbanza@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Francis M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Mumbanza
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kiggundu
authors.forename: Geoffrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tusiime
authors.forename: Wilberforce K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Tushemereirwe
authors.forename: Chuck
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Niblett
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bailey
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005670:Fusarium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D028521:Musa / Q000382:microbiology*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D034622:RNA Interference; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded
keywords: RNA interference; double-stranded RNA; genes; spore germination inhibition