A transgenic strategy for controlling plant bugs (Adelphocoris suturalis) through expression of double-stranded RNA homologous to fatty acyl-coenzyme A reductase in cotton

Luo, J.; Liang, S.; Li, J.; Xu, Z.; Li, L.; Zhu, B.; Li, Z.; Lei, C.; Lindsey, K.; Chen, L.; Jin, S.; Zhang, X.

doi:10.1111/nph.14636

A transgenic strategy for controlling plant bugs (Adelphocoris suturalis) through expression of double-stranded RNA homologous to fatty acyl-coenzyme A reductase in cotton

Luo, J.; Liang, S.; Li, J.; Xu, Z.; Li, L.; Zhu, B.; Li, Z.; Lei, C.; Lindsey, K.; Chen, L.; Jin, S.; Zhang, X.

Authors

J. Luo

S. Liang

J. Li

Z. Xu

L. Li

B. Zhu

Z. Li

C. Lei

Professor Keith Lindsey keith.lindsey@durham.ac.uk
Professor

L. Chen

S. Jin

X. Zhang

Abstract

Plant bugs (Miridae species), which are sap-sucking insects, have emerged as major pests of cotton in China. Most Miridae species are not sensitive to commercial Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton, resulting in significant economic losses and an increased application of insecticide, which eventually may compromise the future of Bt cotton. We demonstrate that FATTY ACYL-COA REDUCTASE (AsFAR) plays an essential role in the reproduction of the bug Adelphocoris suturalis. Down-regulation of AsFAR expression by injection of double-stranded RNA suppresses ovarian development and female fertility, resulting in females producing few viable offspring. To determine the viability of an RNA interference approach to limit FAR expression and reproductive ability in A. suturalis, a dsRNA targeting the AsFAR gene (dsAsFAR) of A. suturalis was expressed in transgenic cotton plants. AsFAR transcription levels were significantly downregulated in A. suturalis feeding on the transgenic plants. In contained field trials, the transgenic cotton lines significantly suppressed the development of A. suturalis populations and were resistant to damage caused by plant bug infestation. These results suggest a new strategy for the management of plant bug pests of cotton.

Citation

Luo, J., Liang, S., Li, J., Xu, Z., Li, L., Zhu, B., …Zhang, X. (2017). A transgenic strategy for controlling plant bugs (Adelphocoris suturalis) through expression of double-stranded RNA homologous to fatty acyl-coenzyme A reductase in cotton. New Phytologist, 215(3), 1173-1185. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.14636

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	May 2, 2017
Online Publication Date	Jun 13, 2017
Publication Date	Jun 13, 2017
Deposit Date	May 8, 2017
Publicly Available Date	Jun 13, 2018
Journal	New Phytologist
Print ISSN	0028-646X
Electronic ISSN	1469-8137
Publisher	Wiley
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	215
Issue	3
Pages	1173-1185
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.14636
Public URL	https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1380015

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Copyright Statement
This is the accepted version of the following article: Luo, J., Liang, S., Li, J., Xu, Z., Li, L., Zhu, B., Li, Z., Lei, C., Lindsey, K., Chen, L., Jin, S. & Zhang, X. (2017). A transgenic strategy for controlling plant bugs (Adelphocoris suturalis) through expression of double-stranded RNA homologous to fatty acyl-coenzyme A reductase in cotton. New Phytologist, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.14636. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.