A Halloween gene shadow is a potential target for RNA‐interference‐based pest management in the small brown planthopper Laodelphax striatellus. Issue 2 (14th April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wan, Pin‐Jun; Jia, Shuang; Li, Na; Fan, Jin‐Mei; Li, Guo‐Qing
• Is Part Of: Pest management science. Volume 71:Issue 2(2015:Feb.)
• Page Start: 199
• Page End: 206
• Publication Date: 2014-04-14
• Subjects: Pests -- Control -- Periodicals; Pesticides -- Periodicals; 632.9
• DOI: 10.1002/ps.3780
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1526-498X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="ps3780-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="ps3780-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>BACKGROUND</title> <p id="ps3780-para-0001"> <italic>L</italic> <italic>aodelphax striatellus</italic> is an economically important rice pest in China. Ecdysteroid hormone 20‐hydroxyecdysone regulates insect development and reproduction. The cytochrome P450 monooxygenase Shadow (Sad) plays a critical role in ecdysteroidogenesis. Here, tests were conducted to establish whether <italic>Lssad</italic> was a potential target gene for RNA‐interference‐based management of <italic>L. striatellus.</italic></p> </sec> <sec id="ps3780-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>RESULTS</title> <p id="ps3780-para-0002"> <italic>L</italic> <italic>ssad</italic> was cloned and characterised. LsSad had Helix‐C, Helix‐I, Helix‐K, PERF and haem‐binding motifs. <italic>Lssad</italic> is expressed at a higher level in the thorax, where prothoracic glands are located, compared with the level in the head or abdomen. It showed two expression peaks in day 2 and day 4–5 fourth‐instar nymphs, and two troughs in day 1 fourth and fifth instars. Oral delivery of double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA) of <italic>Lssad</italic> at the nymph stage successfully knocked down the expression of the target gene, reduced the expression level of <italic>ecdysone receptor</italic> (<italic>LsEcR</italic>) gene, caused nymphal lethality and delayed development in a dose‐dependent manner. Ingestion of 20‐hydroxyecdysone in <italic>Lssad</italic>‐dsRNA‐exposed nymphs did not increase <italic>Lssad</italic> expression level, but almost completely rescued the <italic>LsEcR</italic> mRNA level and relieved the negative effects on survival and development.</p> </sec> <sec id="ps3780-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> <p id="ps3780-para-0003">The ecdysteroidogenic pathway is conserved in <italic>L. striatellus</italic>. <italic>Lssad</italic> can serve as a possible target for dsRNA‐based pesticides for planthopper control. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry</p> </sec> </abstract>