Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is being developed and exploited to improve plants by modifying endogenous gene expression as well as to target pest and pathogen genes both within plants (i.e. host-induced gene silencing) and/or as topical applications (e.g. spray-induced gene silencing). RNAi is a natural mechanism which can be exploited to make a major contribution towards integrated pest management and sustainable agricultural strategies needed worldwide to secure current and future food production. RNAi plants are being assessed and regulated using existing regulatory frameworks for GMO. However, there is an urgent need to develop appropriate science-based risk assessment procedures for topical RNAi applications within existing plant protection products legislation.
Highlights
RNA interference (RNAi) is a natural mechanism found in most eukaryotic organisms in nature and can be exploited to improve plant health
Science has taught us about nature’s elegant genetic regulation occurring in eukaryotic organisms like plants and animals, where double-stranded RNA molecules interfere with homologous alien RNA to fine-tune gene expression and subsequent protein production in a process called RNA interference (RNAi)
Since small interfering RNA (siRNA) recognize target gene messenger RNA (mRNA) based on sequence complementarity, systems can be designed with high specificity where genes with homologous sequences can be targeted in a narrow range of species
Summary
Science has taught us about nature’s elegant genetic regulation occurring in eukaryotic organisms like plants and animals, where double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules interfere with homologous alien RNA to fine-tune gene expression and subsequent protein production in a process called RNA interference (RNAi). When two pheromone-binding proteins were silenced in the agricultural pest, Helicoverpa armigera by RNAi, male moths were significantly less able to detect the female sex pheromone, which reduced mating behaviour (Dong et al 2017) In another example, RNAi was used to silence spermatogenesis genes in Bactrocera tryoni, a major horticultural pest in Australia, and resulted in dsRNA-treated males producing 75% fewer viable offspring than negative controls (Cruz et al 2018). RNAi was used to silence spermatogenesis genes in Bactrocera tryoni, a major horticultural pest in Australia, and resulted in dsRNA-treated males producing 75% fewer viable offspring than negative controls (Cruz et al 2018) This opens up the possibility of exploiting RNAi to generate new IPM strategies based on altered feeding or reproductive behaviour of pests
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