Cedden Doga, Güney Gözde, Debaisieux Xavier, Scholten Stefan, Rostás Michael, Bucher Gregor
Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach Institute, GZMB, Department of Evolutionary Developmental Genetics, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
Agricultural Entomology, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
Insect Mol Biol. 2024 Jul 6. doi: 10.1111/imb.12942.
The cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB, Psylliodes chrysocephala) is a key pest of oilseed rape. The ban on neonicotinoids in the European Union due to environmental concerns and the emergence of pyrethroid-resistant populations have made the control of CSFB extremely challenging. In search of a solution, we have recently shown that RNA interference (RNAi) has potential in the management of CSFB. However, the previously tested target genes for RNAi-mediated pest control (subsequently called target genes) exhibited moderate and slow-acting lethal effects. In this study, 27 double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) were orally delivered to identify highly effective target genes in CSFB adults by leveraging the findings of a genome-wide RNAi screen in Tribolium castaneum. Our screen using 500 ng of dsRNA identified 10 moderately effective (> 50% mortality) and 4 highly effective target genes (100% mortality in 8-13 days). The latter mainly included proteasome subunits. Gene expression measurements confirmed target gene silencing and dose-response studies revealed LD values as low as ~20 ng in 14 days following a single exposure to dsRNA. Four highly effective dsRNAs also inhibited leaf damage (up to ~75%) and one affected locomotion. The sequences of promising target genes were subjected to in silico target prediction in non-target organisms, for example, beneficials such as honeybees, to design environmentally friendly dsRNAs. Overall, the study provides valuable insights for the development of dsRNA-based insecticides against CSFB.
甘蓝茎跳甲（CSFB，Psylliodes chrysocephala）是油菜籽的主要害虫。由于环境问题欧盟禁止使用新烟碱类农药，以及拟除虫菊酯抗性种群的出现，使得甘蓝茎跳甲的防治极具挑战性。为寻找解决方案，我们最近发现RNA干扰（RNAi）在甘蓝茎跳甲的治理方面具有潜力。然而，先前测试的用于RNAi介导害虫防治的靶基因（以下称为靶基因）表现出中等且作用缓慢的致死效应。在本研究中，通过利用在赤拟谷盗中进行的全基因组RNAi筛选结果，将27条双链RNA（dsRNA）经口投喂给甘蓝茎跳甲成虫，以鉴定高效靶基因。我们使用500 ng dsRNA的筛选鉴定出10个中等效力（死亡率>50%）和4个高效靶基因（在8 - 13天内死亡率达100%）。后者主要包括蛋白酶体亚基。基因表达测量证实了靶基因的沉默，剂量反应研究表明，单次暴露于dsRNA后14天内，致死剂量低至约20 ng。4条高效dsRNA还抑制了叶片损伤（高达约75%），其中1条影响了运动能力。对有前景的靶基因序列在非靶标生物（如蜜蜂等有益生物）中进行了计算机靶标预测，以设计环境友好型dsRNA。总体而言，该研究为开发针对甘蓝茎跳甲的基于dsRNA的杀虫剂提供了有价值的见解。
