RNAi to Control Coleopteran Pests
November 9, 2007| |
Control of coleopteran and lepidopteran insect pests usually depend on the expression of BT proteins in transgenic plants. A new approach which uses RNA mediated interference in controlling coleopteran pests is described by scientists from Monsanto Co. and Devgen N.V., in an article published by Nature Biotechnology. RNAi-mediated silencing of essential genes in insect pests can induce cessation of feeding and may ultimately lead to larval death.
The scientists studied the application of RNAi in controlling pests using the western corn rootworm (WCR) as a model. Double stranded RNA (dsRNA) with base pair sequences complementary to ATPase and tubulin (cytoskeletal component) genes were expressed in transgenic corn plants. The transgenic plants show significant reduction in WCR feeding damage. Using the same approach, the researchers also observed larval mortality when dsRNA are introduced to the southern root worm and Colorado potato beetle. Introduction of dsRNA to the cotton boll weevil larvae, however, showed no effects in mortality, suggesting that certain barriers to oral toxicity exist. The use of RNAi in controlling pests can complement the current strategy of expressing Bt insecticidal proteins in crops such as corn, cotton and soybeans.
Read the abstract at http://www.nature.com/nbt/journal/v25/n11/abs/nbt1359.htmlor the full paper published by Nature Biotechnology at http://www.nature.com/nbt/journal/v25/n11/pdf/nbt1359.pdf
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