RNA Interference: A Novel Source of Resistance to Combat Plant Parasitic Nematodes.

Sagar Banerjee,Anamika Banerjee,Om P Gupta,Sarvajeet S Gill,Anil Dahuja,Anil Sirohi,Pradeep K Jain

doi:10.3389/fpls.2017.00834

Abstract

Plant parasitic nematodes cause severe damage and yield loss in major crops all over the world. Available control strategies include use of insecticides/nematicides but these have proved detrimental to the environment, while other strategies like crop rotation and resistant cultivars have serious limitations. This scenario provides an opportunity for the utilization of technological advances like RNA interference (RNAi) to engineer resistance against these devastating parasites. First demonstrated in the model free living nematode, Caenorhabtidis elegans; the phenomenon of RNAi has been successfully used to suppress essential genes of plant parasitic nematodes involved in parasitism, nematode development and mRNA metabolism. Synthetic neurotransmitants mixed with dsRNA solutions are used for in vitro RNAi in plant parasitic nematodes with significant success. However, host delivered in planta RNAi has proved to be a pioneering phenomenon to deliver dsRNAs to feeding nematodes and silence the target genes to achieve resistance. Highly enriched genomic databases are exploited to limit off target effects and ensure sequence specific silencing. Technological advances like gene stacking and use of nematode inducible and tissue specific promoters can further enhance the utility of RNAi based transgenics against plant parasitic nematodes.

Highlights

Plant parasitic nematodes (PPNs) have emerged as a severe threat to crop production and are responsible for an estimated loss of US $173 billion annually to world agriculture (Elling, 2013)
This study proved that neuropeptides can be exploited as potential targets for host delivered RNA interference (RNAi) considering the involvement of these genes in nematode physiology including locomotion, feeding, parasitism and reproduction
RNAi has emerged as a powerful strategy to control multiple pest and pathogens including nematodes especially as we are moving toward the goal of phasing out chemicals that are harmful to environments and ecosystems

Summary

Introduction

Plant parasitic nematodes (PPNs) have emerged as a severe threat to crop production and are responsible for an estimated loss of US $173 billion annually to world agriculture (Elling, 2013). Host generated RNAi has proved to be a revolutionary approach for the delivery of dsRNAs or siRNAs into the feeding nematodes for the silencing of vital nematode specific genes. Yadav et al (2006) first demonstrated host delivered RNAi in tobacco to silence two nematode specific housekeeping genes; splicing factor and integrase of M. incognita.

Results

Conclusion