title: RNAi-mediated mortality of the whitefly through transgenic expression of double-stranded RNA homologous to acetylcholinesterase and ecdysone receptor in tobacco plants.
abstract: The whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) is a pest and vector of plant viruses to crop and ornamental plants worldwide. Using RNA interference (RNAi) to down regulate whitefly genes by expressing their homologous double stranded RNAs in plants has great potential for management of whiteflies to reduce plant virus disease spread. Using a Tobacco rattle virus-derived plasmid for in planta transient expression of double stranded RNA (dsRNA) homologous to the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and ecdysone receptor (EcR) genes of B. tabaci, resulted in significant adult whitefly mortality. Nicotiana tabacum L. plants expressing dsRNA homologous to B. tabaci AChE and EcR were constructed by fusing sequences derived from both genes. Mortality of adult whiteflies exposed to dsRNA by feeding on N. tabacum plants, compared to non-dsRNA expressing plants, recorded at 24-hr intervals post-ingestion for three days, was >90% and 10%, respectively. Analysis of gene expression by real time quantitative PCR indicated that whitefly mortality was attributable to the down-regulation of both target genes by RNAi. Results indicated that knock down of whitefly genes involved in neuronal transmission and transcriptional activation of developmental genes, has potential as a bio-pesticide to reduce whitefly population size and thereby decrease virus spread.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Virology and Gene Silencing Laboratory, Agricultural Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Jhang Road, PO Box #577, Faisalabad, Pakistan.|Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Hassan Jamil
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.affiliation: Molecular Virology and Gene Silencing Laboratory, Agricultural Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Jhang Road, PO Box #577, Faisalabad, Pakistan.|Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raza
authors.affiliation: Molecular Virology and Gene Silencing Laboratory, Agricultural Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Jhang Road, PO Box #577, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Imran
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.affiliation: USDA-ARS, Crop Genetics Research Unit, 141 Experiment Station Rd, Stoneville, MS 38776, USA.
authors.forename: Jodi A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Scheffler
authors.affiliation: USDA-ARS, Genomics and Bioinformatics Research Unit, 141 Experiment Station Rd, Stoneville, MS 38776, USA.
authors.forename: Brian E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Scheffler
authors.affiliation: School of Plant Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
authors.forename: Judith K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Molecular Virology and Gene Silencing Laboratory, Agricultural Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Jhang Road, PO Box #577, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Shahid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mansoor
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics; D006430:Hemiptera / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods; D034622:RNA Interference; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000235:genetics; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics*; D017385:Sequence Homology; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; C055469:ecdysone receptor; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase