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Fused: a promising molecular target for an RNAi-based strategy to manage Bt resistance in Plutella xylostella (L.)

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Abstract

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a naturally occurring entomopathogenic soil bacterium, has been the active ingredient of sprayable Bt biopesticides for over a century. Insecticidal Bt Cry proteins are particularly well suited for use as plant-incorporated protectants in transgenic crops (Bt crops) due to their specificity against insect pests and safety for non-target organisms. The sustainability of these Bt products, however, has been challenged by the development of resistance in the field. RNA interference (RNAi), a species-specific control alternative that has been deregulated and commercialized in the USA and Canada, provides a new mode of action to complement the existing Bt products. Based on our preliminary research, we hypothesized that pyramiding/integrating Bt with RNAi can address/manage resistance issues related to Bt traits. To examine this overarching hypothesis, we (1) cloned and characterized a serine/threonine kinase gene (fused) of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway in the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), a global superpest; (2) profiled Pxfused expression in Bt-resistant P. xylostella strains; and (3) investigated the involvement of Pxfused in Bt Cry1Ac resistance in P. xylostella. Pxfused expression was elevated ubiquitously in all Bt-resistant strains, and silencing of Pxfused led to larval and pupal mortality in both Cry1Ac-susceptible and -resistant strains, suggesting that Pxfused is a potential target for RNAi-based resistance management. Taken together, our results not only identify a molecular target to control a devastating lepidopteran pest, but also shed light on a novel resistance management strategy through the integration of two biotechnological techniques with distinct modes of action.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (2017YFD0200900), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31630059; 31701813; 32022074), the Beijing Key Laboratory for Pest Control and Sustainable Cultivation of Vegetables and the Science and Technology Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS-ASTIP-IVFCAAS).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China

    Shi Kang, Dan Sun, Jianying Qin, Le Guo, Liuhong Zhu, Yang Bai, Qingjun Wu, Shaoli Wang, Zhaojiang Guo & Youjun Zhang

  2. Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546-0091, USA

    Xuguo Zhou

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  1. Shi Kang
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  2. Dan Sun
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  3. Jianying Qin
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  4. Le Guo
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  5. Liuhong Zhu
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Correspondence to Zhaojiang Guo or Youjun Zhang.

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Kang, S., Sun, D., Qin, J. et al. Fused: a promising molecular target for an RNAi-based strategy to manage Bt resistance in Plutella xylostella (L.). J Pest Sci 95, 101–114 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-021-01374-3

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