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Knockdown of juvenile hormone acid methyl transferase severely affects the performance of Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) larvae and adults
Author(s) -
Fu KaiYun,
Li Qian,
Zhou LiTao,
Meng QingWei,
Lü FengGong,
Guo WenChao,
Li GuoQing
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
pest management science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.296
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1526-4998
pISSN - 1526-498X
DOI - 10.1002/ps.4103
Subject(s) - juvenile hormone , biology , gene knockdown , hemolymph , leptinotarsa , rna interference , larva , metamorphosis , microbiology and biotechnology , endocrinology , gene , medicine , biochemistry , botany , rna
BACKGROUND Juvenile hormone ( JH ) plays a critical role in the regulation of metamorphosis in Leptinotarsa decemlineata , a notorious defoliator of potato. JH acid methyltransferase ( JHAMT ) is involved in one of the final steps of JH biosynthesis. RESULTS A putative JHAMT cDNA ( LdJHAMT ) was cloned. Two double‐stranded RNAs ( dsRNAs ) (ds JHAMT1 and ds JHAMT2 ) against LdJHAMT were constructed and bacterially expressed. Experiments were conducted to investigate the effectiveness of RNAi in both second‐ and fourth‐instar larvae. Dietary introduction of ds JHAMT1 and ds JHAMT2 successfully knocked down the target gene, lowered JH titre in the haemolymph and reduced the transcript of Krüppel homologue 1 gene. Ingestion of ds JHAMT caused larval death and weight loss, shortened larval developmental period and impaired pupation. Moreover, the ds JHAMT ‐fed pupae exhibited lower adult emergence rates. The resulting adults weighed an average of 50 mg less than the control group, and the females did not deposit eggs. Application of pyriproxyfen to the ds JHAMT ‐fed insects rescued all the negative effects. CONCLUSIONS LdJHAMT expresses functional JHAMT enzyme. The RNAi targeting LdJHAMT could be used for control of L. decemlineata . © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry