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Saberi E, Mondal M, Paredes-Montero JR, Nawaz K, Brown JK, Qureshi JA. Optimal dsRNA Concentration for RNA Interference in Asian Citrus Psyllid. INSECTS 2024; 15:58. [PMID: 38249064 PMCID: PMC10816725 DOI: 10.3390/insects15010058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) is a citrus pest and insect vector of "Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus", the causal agent of citrus greening disease. Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) biopesticides that trigger RNA interference (RNAi) offer an alternative to traditional insecticides. Standardized laboratory screening of dsRNA requires establishing the minimal effective concentration(s) that result in effective RNAi "penetrance" and trigger RNAi, resulting in one or more measurable phenotypes, herein, significant gene knockdown and the potential for mortality. In this study, knockdown was evaluated for a range of dsRNA concentrations of three ACP candidate genes, clathrin heavy chain (CHC), vacuolar ATPase subunit A (vATPase-A), and sucrose non-fermenting protein 7 (Snf7). Gene knockdown was quantified for ACP teneral adults and 3rd instar nymphs allowed a 48 h ingestion-access period (IAP) on 10, 50,100, 200, and 500 ng/µL dsRNA dissolved in 20% sucrose followed by a 5-day post-IAP on orange jasmine shoots. Significant gene knockdown (p < 0.05) in ACP third instar nymphs and adults ranged from 12-34% and 18-39%, 5 days post-IAP on dsRNA at 10-500 and 100-500 ng/µL, respectively. The threshold concentration beyond which no significant gene knockdown and adult mortality was observed post-48 h IAP and 10-day IAP, respectively, was determined as 200 ng/µL, a concentration indicative of optimal RNAi penetrance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esmaeil Saberi
- Southwest Florida Research and Education Center, Department of Entomology and Nematology, IFAS, University of Florida, Immokalee, FL 34142, USA;
| | - Mosharrof Mondal
- School of Plant Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; (M.M.); (K.N.)
- RNAissance Ag, LLC, Saint Louis, MO 63132, USA
| | - Jorge R. Paredes-Montero
- Biology Department, Saginaw Valley State University, University Center, MI 48710, USA;
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Campus Gustavo Galindo, Km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, Guayaquil EC090112, Ecuador
| | - Kiran Nawaz
- School of Plant Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; (M.M.); (K.N.)
- RNAissance Ag, LLC, Saint Louis, MO 63132, USA
| | - Judith K. Brown
- School of Plant Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; (M.M.); (K.N.)
| | - Jawwad A. Qureshi
- Southwest Florida Research and Education Center, Department of Entomology and Nematology, IFAS, University of Florida, Immokalee, FL 34142, USA;
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