Host generated siRNAs attenuate expression of serine protease gene in Myzus persicae

PLoS One. 2012;7(10):e46343. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0046343. Epub 2012 Oct 10.

Abstract

Background: Sap sucking hemipteran aphids damage diverse crop species. Although delivery of ds-RNA or siRNA through microinjection/feeding has been demonstrated, the efficacy of host-mediated delivery of aphid-specific dsRNA in developing aphid resistance has been far from being elucidated.

Methodology/principal findings: Transgenic Arabidopsis expressing ds-RNA of Myzus persicae serine protease (MySP) was developed that triggered the generation of corresponding siRNAs amenable for delivery to the feeding aphids. M. persicae when fed on the transgenic plants for different time intervals under controlled growth conditions resulted in a significant attenuation of the expression of MySP and a commensurate decline in gut protease activity. Although the survivability of these aphids was not affected, there was a noticeable decline in their fecundity resulting in a significant reduction in parthenogenetic population.

Conclusions/significance: The study highlighted the feasibility of developing host based RNAi-mediated resistance against hemipteran pest aphids.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aphids / enzymology
  • Aphids / genetics*
  • Aphids / physiology
  • Phylogeny
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / parasitology
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics*
  • Serine Proteases / genetics*

Substances

  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Serine Proteases

Grants and funding

This research was funded by “Lal Bahadur Shastri Young Scientist project” of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and an institutional grant of the National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.