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Updated: Oct 5, 2025
RNA Interference in Aquatic Beetles as a Powerful Tool for Manipulating Gene Expression at Specific Developmental Time Points
Published on: May 29, 2020
RNA interference targeting Ras GTPase gene Ran causes larval and adult lethality in Leptinotarsa decemlineata
Chen-Hui Shen1, Lin Jin1, Kai-Yun Fu2,3
1Agriculture Ministry Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in East China/State and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Green Pesticide Invention and Application, Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.
Background:
RNA interference (RNAi) is a breakthrough technology in pest control. It is highly efficient to Coleopteran pests such as the Colorado potato beetle Leptinotarsa decemlineata, a serious pest defoliator mainly attacking potatoes worldwide. The first step for effective pest control by RNAi is the development of effective and reliable target genes.
Results:
Our results revealed that continuous ingestion of dsLdRan for 3 days successfully silenced the target gene, inhibited larval growth and killed 100% L. decemlineata larvae. When the bioassay began at the second-, third/fourth-instar larval stages, the larval lethality mainly occurred at the fourth larval instar and prepupal stages, respectively. Importantly, consumption of dsLdRan for 3 days by the newly-emerged males and females effectively knocked down the target transcript, reduced fresh weights and caused 100% of lethality within a week. The LdRan females possessed underdeveloped ovaries.
Conclusion:
Considering that the larvae, adults and eggs are simultaneously sited on the potato plants, bacterially-expressed dsLdRan is a potential RNAi-based strategy for managing L. decemlineata in the potato field. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
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