SUPPRESSING A PEROXIDASE GENE REDUCES SURVIVAL IN THE WHEAT APHID Sitobion avenae

Peroxidases (POXs) make up a large superfamily of enzymes that act in a wide range of biological mechanisms, including maintaining appropriate redox balances within cells, among other actions. In this study, we cloned a sequence that encodes a POX protein, SaPOX, from wheat aphids, Sitobion avenae. Amino acid sequence alignment showed the SaPOX sequence was conserved with POXs from other insect species. SaPOX mRNA accumulations were present in all nymphal and adult stages, at higher levels during the first and second instar, and lower during later stages in the life cycle. Ingestion of dsRNA specific to POX led to reduced SaPOX mRNA accumulation. Sitobion avenae nymphs continuously exposed to dietary dsPOX via an artificial diet led to reduced survival rate and ecdysis index. We infer that POX is important to maintain the growth and development of S. avenae.