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A transgenic strategy for controlling plant bugs (Adelphocoris suturalis) through expression of double-stranded RNA homologous to fatty acyl-coenzyme A reductase in cotton

Luo, J.; Liang, S.; Li, J.; Xu, Z.; Li, L.; Zhu, B.; Li, Z.; Lei, C.; Lindsey, K.; Chen, L.; Jin, S.; Zhang, X.

A transgenic strategy for controlling plant bugs (Adelphocoris suturalis) through expression of double-stranded RNA homologous to fatty acyl-coenzyme A reductase in cotton Thumbnail


Authors

J. Luo

S. Liang

J. Li

Z. Xu

L. Li

B. Zhu

Z. Li

C. Lei

L. Chen

S. Jin

X. Zhang



Abstract

Plant bugs (Miridae species), which are sap-sucking insects, have emerged as major pests of cotton in China. Most Miridae species are not sensitive to commercial Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton, resulting in significant economic losses and an increased application of insecticide, which eventually may compromise the future of Bt cotton. We demonstrate that FATTY ACYL-COA REDUCTASE (AsFAR) plays an essential role in the reproduction of the bug Adelphocoris suturalis. Down-regulation of AsFAR expression by injection of double-stranded RNA suppresses ovarian development and female fertility, resulting in females producing few viable offspring. To determine the viability of an RNA interference approach to limit FAR expression and reproductive ability in A. suturalis, a dsRNA targeting the AsFAR gene (dsAsFAR) of A. suturalis was expressed in transgenic cotton plants. AsFAR transcription levels were significantly downregulated in A. suturalis feeding on the transgenic plants. In contained field trials, the transgenic cotton lines significantly suppressed the development of A. suturalis populations and were resistant to damage caused by plant bug infestation. These results suggest a new strategy for the management of plant bug pests of cotton.

Citation

Luo, J., Liang, S., Li, J., Xu, Z., Li, L., Zhu, B., …Zhang, X. (2017). A transgenic strategy for controlling plant bugs (Adelphocoris suturalis) through expression of double-stranded RNA homologous to fatty acyl-coenzyme A reductase in cotton. New Phytologist, 215(3), 1173-1185. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.14636

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date May 2, 2017
Online Publication Date Jun 13, 2017
Publication Date Jun 13, 2017
Deposit Date May 8, 2017
Publicly Available Date Jun 13, 2018
Journal New Phytologist
Print ISSN 0028-646X
Electronic ISSN 1469-8137
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 215
Issue 3
Pages 1173-1185
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.14636

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Copyright Statement
This is the accepted version of the following article: Luo, J., Liang, S., Li, J., Xu, Z., Li, L., Zhu, B., Li, Z., Lei, C., Lindsey, K., Chen, L., Jin, S. & Zhang, X. (2017). A transgenic strategy for controlling plant bugs (Adelphocoris suturalis) through expression of double-stranded RNA homologous to fatty acyl-coenzyme A reductase in cotton. New Phytologist, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.14636. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.





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