RNAi in fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae): Successes and challenges

Abstract

AbstractFruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) are among the most economically important pests worldwide, causing direct damage to fruit crops through female oviposition and larval feeding. Currently, the most widely disseminated methods of control of fruit flies involve the adoption of cultural and biological techniques, like the sterile insect technique, and the use of agrochemicals. However, the latter depend on the concomitant use of other techniques, especially chemical ones, which are the most successful, but also related to resistance, off‐target effects and pollution, showing the need for new methods. RNA interference (RNAi) is a biotechnological tool that is capable of inducing post‐transcriptional gene silencing using double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA). The mechanism could be exploited in pest control associated with integrated pest management, by targeting essential genes or by increasing the susceptibility of insects to insecticides. Here, we discuss the RNAi machinery and the uptake genes of the main Tephritidae species and their differences in comparison with other insects. Then, we investigate the international literature on the application of this tool to improve the sterile insect technique, enhance the insects’ susceptibility to insecticides and modulate their growth and development, demonstrating the sensibility of Tephritidae species to RNAi. Finally, we discuss the main challenges to the future use of RNAi as a method to control Tephritidae, such as delivery procedures, degradation and production of dsRNA, off‐target effects, occurrence of refractoriness, and perspectives and shortages associated with its adoption that need to be considered.