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Silencing of Mythimna separata chitinase genes via oral delivery of in planta-expressed RNAi effectors from a recombinant plant virus

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Abstract

Objectives

To evaluate transient expression of RNA interference (RNAi) effectors in Nicotiana benthamiana plants by using recombinant virus vectors and also oral delivery of the effectors for silencing of Mythimna separata endogenous gene expression.

Results

Mythimna separata is a serious pest of corn production in China. To evaluate RNAi approaches to target specific RNAs in M. separate, we cloned fragments of the M. separata chitinase sequences into a virus vector in order to produce RNAi effectors during virus infection and replication in plants. When the infected plants were fed to M. separata, expression levels of target MseChi1 and MseChi2 genes were down-regulated by 76 and 45 %, respectively, and sequence-specific siRNAs were detected in recipient insects. RNAi-based silencing of chitinase genes also led to body weight decreases by 43 %.

Conclusion

Our research demonstrates target mRNA knockdown and suggests a promising application for controlling of M. separata by in planta expression of RNAi effectors using a recombinant plant virus.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by funding from National Natural Science Foundation of China (31460036) and Program of Higher-level Talents of Inner Mongolia University (30105–125127). We would like to thank Prof. Bryce Falk from UC Davis for helpful comments and reviewing the written English of the manuscript.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Inner Mongolia University, No.235 West College Road, Inner Mongolia, Hohhot, P.R.C ZIP: 010021, China

      Wenhua Bao, Budao Cao, Yanan Zhang & Hada Wuriyanghan

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    1. Wenhua Bao
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    2. Budao Cao
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    3. Yanan Zhang
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    4. Hada Wuriyanghan
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    Correspondence to Hada Wuriyanghan.

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    The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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    Wenhua Bao and Budao Cao have contributed equally to the work.

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    Bao, W., Cao, B., Zhang, Y. et al. Silencing of Mythimna separata chitinase genes via oral delivery of in planta-expressed RNAi effectors from a recombinant plant virus. Biotechnol Lett 38, 1961–1966 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-016-2186-0

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-016-2186-0

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