Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, Centre for Horticultural Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
Nat Plants. 2022 May;8(5):535-548. doi: 10.1038/s41477-022-01152-8. Epub 2022 May 16.
Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) is a phloem-feeding global agricultural pest belonging to the order Hemiptera. Foliar application of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) represents an attractive avenue for pest control; however, limited uptake and phloem availability of the dsRNA has restricted the development of RNA interference (RNAi)-based biopesticides against sap-sucking insects. Following high-throughput single and combinational target gene identification for additive effects, we report here that foliar application of dsRNA loaded onto layered double hydroxide (LDH), termed BioClay, can effectively disrupt multiple whitefly developmental stages in planta. Adjuvants were shown to enhance uptake and movement of foliar-applied dsRNA to vascular bundles and into the whitefly. Notably, delivering the dsRNA as a BioClay spray instead of as naked dsRNA improved protection against immature insect stages, demonstrating the platform's potential to extend the benefits offered by RNA insecticides towards complete life cycle control of whitefly and potentially other pests.
烟粉虱（Bemisia tabaci）是一种半翅目吸食韧皮部的全球性农业害虫。双链 RNA（dsRNA）的叶面喷施代表了一种有吸引力的害虫防治途径；然而，dsRNA 的摄取和韧皮部可用性有限，限制了基于 RNA 干扰（RNAi）的生物农药的发展，以对抗吸食汁液的昆虫。在高通量单靶基因和组合靶基因鉴定的基础上，我们报告称，将负载在层状双氢氧化物（LDH）上的 dsRNA（称为 BioClay）叶面喷施可以有效地破坏植物体内多个粉虱发育阶段。佐剂被证明可以增强叶面喷施的 dsRNA 进入维管束和粉虱体内的摄取和移动。值得注意的是，将 dsRNA 作为 BioClay 喷雾而不是裸露的 dsRNA 进行递送，可以提高对未成熟昆虫阶段的保护，这表明该平台有可能将 RNA 杀虫剂提供的益处扩展到对粉虱和其他潜在害虫的完整生命周期控制。
