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RNAi feeding bioassay: development of a non‐transgenic approach to control Asian citrus psyllid and other hemipterans
Author(s) -
Andrade Eduardo C.,
Hunter Wayne B.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
entomologia experimentalis et applicata
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.765
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1570-7458
pISSN - 0013-8703
DOI - 10.1111/eea.12544
Subject(s) - biology , rna interference , rna , bioassay , rna silencing , gene knockdown , insect , toxicology , botany , gene , genetics
RNA interference ( RNA i) involves a natural mechanism of gene regulation and an antiviral defense system in eukaryotic cells, resulting in sequence‐specific degradation of RNA s. Recent studies demonstrated the feasibility of using RNA i‐based strategies to reduce insect pests or increase the health of beneficial insects. This technology permits the development of strategies to control a single insect species, with possibly no negative effects on non‐target species, like honey bees or parasitoids. Focus on the development of topically applied RNA i‐based approaches to manage insect pests and pathogens may provide environmentally sound products for use across all agriculture production systems. Herein presented are methods to develop RNA i‐based control to the Asian citrus psyllid ( ACP ), D iaphorina citri K uwayama ( H emiptera: P syllidae), vector of citrus H uanglongbing ( HLB ). Described is an RNA i feeding bioassay, called in plant system ( iPS ), which uses vegetative new‐growth citrus flush to deliver double‐strand RNA (ds RNA ) to ACP during natural feeding. The iPS demonstrated delivery of non‐specific ds RNA in ACP 72 h post feeding. Feeding on flushes treated with ds RNA targeting ACP Arginine Kinase (ds AK ), caused relative transcript knockdown and psyllid mortality. Increasing the dose of ds AK or use of ds RNA triggers made to different regions of the AK mRNA did not increase psyllid mortality. The iPS bioassay provides an easy system for use across many plants to successfully deliver ds RNA to ACP and other hemipteran insects for research or RNA i development.