Abstract
The efficacy of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) in inducing host specific gene knockdown and mortality has been demonstrated in a multitude of insects and dsRNAs are being integrated for pest suppression in a variety of agricultural and horticultural crops. However, less attention has been applied to their use in forest settings, despite the demonstrated susceptibility of multiple forest pests to RNAi. Prior to implementation for forest pest suppression, characterization of the specificity, efficacy, and behavior of dsRNAs in the environment is essential. Therefore, we investigated the translocation and retention of exogenously applied dsRNA in an economically and ecologically significant hardwood tree when applied hydroponically. White oak (Quercus alba, L.) seedlings were exposed to dsRNAs as a root soak, and at 1, 3, 5, and 7 days post-exposure were destructively sampled, divided into stem and leaf tissue, and the RNA extracted. Gel electrophoresis was used to visualize the presence of exogenous dsRNA in treated seedling material and Sanger sequencing was used to further verify recovery of treatment dsRNAs. Both techniques confirmed the presence of the exogenously applied dsRNAs in each tissue type at each sample interval, demonstrating successful uptake and translocation of dsRNAs through white oak tissues. Our findings support root uptake as a viable delivery method for dsRNAs in hardwood seedlings, which could provide single tree protection from selected tree feeding pests or pathogens.
Highlights
Recent advances in molecular technologies have enabled multiple novel pest management approaches, including the adaptation of RNA interference (RNAi) technologies for agricultural and horticultural commodities
Seedling size did not differ between treatments, replicates, or double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) exposure intervals
Our experiment is the first to evaluate the translocation and persistence of exogenously applied dsRNAs delivered via hydroponic soaking in white oak and serves to broaden our understanding of dsRNAs in woody plant tissue
Summary
Recent advances in molecular technologies have enabled multiple novel pest management approaches, including the adaptation of RNA interference (RNAi) technologies for agricultural and horticultural commodities. By engineering dsRNA sequences complementary to specific genes in pest species, the RNAi pathway can be induced to initiate targeted gene silencing of critical processes or specific biological functions. One advantage of RNAi technology over traditional insecticides is its specificity to target, in where an exact match of ≥16 base pairs is required to cause gene silencing (Chen et al, 2021). Both in silico and in vivo studies have demonstrated reduced off target effects that RNAi technologies offer when compared to traditional insecticides (Vogel et al, 2019; Pampolini and Rieske, 2020)
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