Pest Management Science (2020) 76, 134-140

Feng Shang, Bi-Yue Ding, Chao Ye, Li Yang, Teng-Yu Chang, Jiaqin Xie, Liang-De Tang, Jinzhi Niu and Jin-Jun Wang (2020)
Evaluation of a cuticle protein gene as a potential RNAi target in aphids
Pest Management Science 76 (1), 134-140
Abstract:
BACKGROUND
RNA interference (RNAi) has potential as a pest insect control technique. One possible RNAi target is the cuticle protein, which is important in insect molting and development. As an example, here we evaluate the possibility of designing double-stranded RNA (RNA) that is effective for silencing the cuticle protein 19 gene (CP19) in aphids but is harmless to non-target predator insects.
RESULTS
The sequences of CP19s were similar (86.6–94.4%) among the tested aphid species (Aphis citricidus, Acyrthosiphon pisum, and Myzus persicae) but different in the predator Propylaea japonica. Ingestion of species-specific dsRNAs of CP19 by the three aphids produced 39.3–64.2% gene silencing and 45.8–55.8% mortality. Ingestion of non-species-specific dsRNA (dsAcCP19) by Ac. pisum and M. persicae gave gene silencing levels ranging from 40.4% to 50.3% and 43.3–50.8% mortality. The dsApCP19 did not affect PjCP19 expression or developmental duration in P. japonica.
CONCLUSION
The results demonstrate that CP19 is a promising RNAi target for aphid control via one dsRNA design. The targeting of genes that are conserved in insect pests but not present in beneficial insects is a useful RNAi-based pest control strategy.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Jin-Jun Wang

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
resistance to pesticides

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Myzus persicae
	Acyrthosiphon pisum
	Aphis citricidus
Propylea japonica (predator)