Joshi Jyoti, Coffin Robert, Barrett Ryan, Wang-Pruski Gefu
Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, NS B2N 5E3, Canada.
Privar Farm Inc., Quinte West, ON K8V 5P6, Canada.
Insects. 2024 Dec 11;15(12):983. doi: 10.3390/insects15120983.
Wireworms are the most destructive soil insect pests affecting horticultural crops. The damage often renders them unsuitable for commercial purposes, resulting in substantial economic losses. RNA interference (RNAi) has been broadly used to inhibit gene functions to control insect populations. It employs double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) to knockdown essential genes in target organisms, rendering them incapable of development or survival. Although it is a robust approach, the primary challenges are identifying effective target genes and delivering their dsRNA into wireworms. Thus, the present study established a liquid ingestion methodology that efficiently delivers dsRNA into wireworms. We then investigated the effects of four target genes on wireworm mortality. The highest mortality rate reached 50% when the gene encoding vacuolar ATPase subunit A was targeted. Its transcript content in the fed wireworms was also significantly reduced. The mortality rates of the other three target genes of vacuolar ATPase subunit E, beta-actin, and chitin synthase 1 were 28%, 33%, and 35%, respectively. This is the first report demonstrating an efficient feeding methodology and the silencing of target genes in wireworms. Our findings indicate that RNAi is an effective alternative method for controlling the wireworm pest, and can be used to develop field treatment strategies.
金针虫是影响园艺作物的最具破坏性的土壤害虫。这种损害常常使它们不适用于商业用途，从而造成巨大的经济损失。RNA干扰（RNAi）已被广泛用于抑制基因功能以控制昆虫种群。它利用双链RNA（dsRNA）来敲低目标生物中的必需基因，使其无法发育或存活。尽管这是一种有效的方法，但主要挑战在于识别有效的靶基因并将其dsRNA导入金针虫体内。因此，本研究建立了一种能有效将dsRNA导入金针虫体内的液体摄取方法。然后，我们研究了四个靶基因对金针虫死亡率的影响。当靶向编码液泡ATP酶亚基A的基因时，最高死亡率达到50%。在取食dsRNA的金针虫中，该基因的转录本含量也显著降低。液泡ATP酶亚基E、β-肌动蛋白和几丁质合成酶1的其他三个靶基因的死亡率分别为28%、33%和35%。这是第一份证明在金针虫中有有效取食方法和靶基因沉默的报告。我们的研究结果表明，RNA干扰是控制金针虫害虫的一种有效替代方法，可用于制定田间处理策略。
