Host-induced silencing of the CpCHI gene resulted in developmental abnormalities and mortality in maize stem borer (Chilo partellus)

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 18; no. 2; p. e0280963
• Main Authors: Adeyinka, Olawale Samuel, Nasir, Idrees Ahmad, Tabassum, Bushra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 06-02-2023; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Abnormalities; Agricultural chemicals; Animals; Bioassays; Biology and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Borers; Carbenicillin; Chilo partellus; Chitinase; Cloning; Corn; Developmental stages; Diseases and pests; Dosage and administration; Double-stranded RNA; E coli; Engineering and Technology; Environmental aspects; Food; Genes; Genetic aspects; Genetically engineered foods; Growth; Health aspects; Insecticides; Insects; Larva - genetics; Larvae; Leaves; Mortality; Moths - genetics; Pest control; Pests; Phylogenetics; Plant Leaves - genetics; Plant protection; Research and Analysis Methods; RNA-mediated interference; Stems; Survival analysis; Toxicity; Zea mays - genetics; Pakistan
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280963

RNAi-based insecticides for crop protection have witnessed rapid improvement over the years. However, their potential to efficiently control maize stem borer (Chilo partellus) pests has remained underexplored. In this study, double-stranded C. partellus chitinase (dsCHI) toxicity was investigated in C. partellus larvae. Furthermore, we developed transgenic maize lines expressing dsRNA targeted against C. partellus chitinase transcripts and performed detached leaf insect feeding bioassays. Our results revealed that C. partellus chitinase transcript expression was significantly downregulated by 57% and 82% in the larvae. Larvae exhibited various phenotypic distortion levels across developmental stages, and 53% mortality occurred in transgenic fed larvae compared to those fed on nontransgenic leaves. In conclusion, we have identified the C. partellus chitinase gene as a potential target for RNAi-mediated control and demonstrated that oral delivery via bacteria and plant-mediated delivery are viable means of achieving C. partellus RNAi-mediated control.