Glucosamine-6-phosphate N-acetyltransferase gene silencing by parental RNA interference in rice leaf folder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Muhammad Shakeel,Juan Du,Yuan-Jin Zhou,Shang-Wei Li,Naeem Sarwar,Xiaolan Guo

doi:10.1038/s41598-022-06193-9

Muhammad Shakeel, Juan Du + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-06193-9

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Abstract

Parental RNAi (pRNAi) is a response of RNA interference in which treated insect pests progenies showed a gene silencing phenotypes. pRNAi of CmGNA gene has been studied in Cnaphalocrocis medinalis via injection. Our results showed significant reduction in ovulation per female that was 26% and 35.26% in G1 and G2 generations, respectively. Significant reduction of hatched eggs per female were observed 23.53% and 45.26% as compared to control in G1–G2 generations, respectively. We also observed the significant variation in the sex ratio between female (40% and 53%) in G1–G2 generations, and in male (65%) in G1 generation as compared to control. Our results also demonstrated the significant larval mortality (63% and 55%) and pupal mortality (55% and 41%), and significant reduction of mRNA expression level in G1 and G2 generations. Our findings have confirmed that effectiveness of pRNAi induced silencing on the CmGNA target gene in G1–G2 generations of C. medinalis. These results suggested the potential role of pRNAi in insect pest resistance management strategies.

Highlights

Rice (Oryza sativa L., family Poaceae) is the world’s largest cereal crop that is widely cultivated around the globe
In order to examine the Parental RNA interference (RNAi) (pRNAi) effects on oviposition, treated larvae were reared until they become adults
We described that pRNAi caused a significant larval mortality in G1-G3 generations of C. medinalis[67]

Summary

Introduction

Rice (Oryza sativa L., family Poaceae) is the world’s largest cereal crop that is widely cultivated around the globe. Rice leaf folder (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis) is a major destructive rice insect pest that can cause severe grain yield losses worldwide. It is widely distributed in many rice growing countries of Asia, Africa, Australia and Oceania[8]. 4th larval stadium is considered most destructive for rice leaves[10] Major characteristic of this insect pest is to scroll the leaves blades and scratch chlorophyll pigment inside t hem[11]. RNAi through dsRNA microinjection could be useful to silence the chitin biosynthesis genes in C. medinalis

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