Insecticidal and synergistic activity of dsRNAs targeting buprofezin‐specific genes against the small brown planthopper, Laodelphax striatellus

• Published in: Archives of insect biochemistry and physiology 2020-12, Vol.105 (4), p.e21739-n/a
• Main Authors: Fang, Ying, Park, Min G., Choi, Jae Y., Park, Dong H., Wang, Minghui, Kim, Hyun J., Kim, Woo J., Je, Yeon H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Chitin; Chitin synthase; double‐stranded RNA; Gene expression; Genes; Glycoproteins; Hemiptera - drug effects; Hemiptera - genetics; Identification methods; insecticidal activity; Insecticide resistance; Insecticide Resistance - genetics; Insecticides - pharmacology; Laodelphax striatellus; Lethality; Lipophorin; Pest control; Pests; Precursors; Rice fields; RNA Interference; RNA, Double-Stranded - pharmacology; RNA-mediated interference; Synergistic effect; Target recognition; Thiadiazines - pharmacology; Transcriptome
• ISSN: 0739-4462; 1520-6327
• DOI: 10.1002/arch.21739

The small brown planthopper, Laodelphax striatellus, is a dangerous pest in rice fields. Although buprofezin has been used to control L. striatellus for more than a decade, the occurrence of buprofezin‐resistant L. striatellus has been recently reported. To develop an alternative pest control strategy, comparative transcriptome analysis of buprofezin‐treated and nontreated L. striatellus was performed to screen the buprofezin‐specific target genes for RNA interference (RNAi) application. Among six genes downregulated in the buprofezin‐treated L. striatellus, RNAi‐based silencing of the lipophorin precursor, endocuticle structure glycoprotein, and chitin synthase significantly induced the lethality of L. striatellus in a concentration‐dependent manner. In addition, a cocktail of double‐stranded RNAs against these three genes showed synergistic effects with buprofezin. These results provide RNAi‐based effective approaches to control L. striatellus as well as an efficient method to identify novel target genes for RNAi application. Graphical Double‐stranded RNA interference against the lipophorin precursor, endocuticle structure glycoprotein, and chitin synthase gene, which were downregulated in buprofezin‐treated Laodelphax striatellus, significantly induced the lethality of L. striatellus and showed synergistic effects with buprofezin. Highlights RNAi‐based silencing of Lipophorin precursor, endocuticle structure glycoprotein, and chitin synthase genes induced lethality of L. striatellus. A cocktail of dsRNAs against these genes showed synergistic effects with buprofezin.