Abstract
Key message
Transgenic sugarcane expressing V-ATPase subunit E dsRNA affects growth and survival of Sphenophorus levis.
Abstract
Plants being sessile organisms are constantly confronted with several biotic and abiotic stresses. Sugarcane (Saccharum spp) is a major tropical crop widely cultivated for its sugar and other by-products. In Brazil, sugarcane plantations account for significant production losses due to Sphenophorus levis (sugarcane weevil) infestations. With the existing control measures being less effective, there arises a necessity for advanced strategies. Our bioassay injection experiments with V-ATPase E dsRNA in S. levis larvae showed significant mortality and reduction in transcription levels. Furthermore, we down-regulated the V-ATPase E gene of S. levis in transgenic sugarcane using an RNAi approach. The resultant RNAi transgenic lines exhibited reduction in larval growth and survival, without compromising plant performance under controlled environment. Our results illustrate that RNAi-mediated down-regulation of key genes is a promising approach in imparting resistance to sugarcane weevil.
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Acknowledgements
CM and PYTS were recipient of scholarship from the Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) with grant 2015/10855-9 and 2017/16-118-1, respectively. This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Brazil, under finance code 001. F.H.-S. is the recipient of a Research Productivity Scholarship from the National Council for Research and Development (CNPq grant 311746/2017-9). The authors thank Paulo Cassieri, Hugo Corocher, Gabriel Silvino and Vitor Ometto for their assistance in maintenance of transgenic plants.
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CM: data curation, methodology, visualization, original draft; PYTS: methodology, visualization, original draft; FPF: methodology; DT: methodology; MASV: methodology, original draft; AF: methodology, original draft; ASC: methodology, original draft; FHS: conceptualization, visualization, supervision, original draft.
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Communicated by Prakash Lakshmanan.
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Mohan, C., Shibao, P.Y.T., de Paula, F.F.P. et al. hRNAi-mediated knock-down of Sphenophorus levis V-ATPase E in transgenic sugarcane (Saccharum spp interspecific hybrid) affects the insect growth and survival. Plant Cell Rep 40, 507–516 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-020-02646-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-020-02646-5