Greenhouse test of spraying dsRNA to control the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, infesting hot peppers

Khan, Falguni; Kim, Minlee; Kim, Yonggyun

doi:10.1186/s12896-023-00780-y

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…Regarding the cost and practically feasibility of dsRNA, the current cost of controlling pests through dsRNA technology is undeniably higher than that of pesticides for weed management in turfgrass systems ( 46 ). Spraying dsRNA has been used to control the western flower thrips in greenhouse ( 36 ). We believe with advances in research and the maturation of technology, the cost will be reduced, and the use of dsRNA could become practically feasible.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The efficiency of simulation by RNAi technique can be further improved, and the technique can then be used in biological control. Similar to RNAi silencing, lepidopteran insects perform substance exchange and immune functions through the circulation of hemolymph in the body, giving dsRNA a chance to pass through the insect gut to the hemolymph and to be delivered into the cell to perform its functions (35)(36)(37). Needless to say, targeting key genes for growth and development is better at eliminating pests.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Simulating immunosuppressive mechanism of Microplitis bicoloratus bracovirus coordinately fights Spodoptera frugiperda

Li,

Ma,

Long

et al. 2023

Front. Immunol.

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Parasitoid wasps control pests via a precise attack leading to the death of the pest. However, parasitoid larvae exhibit self-protection strategies against bracovirus-induced reactive oxygen species impairment. This has a detrimental effect on pest control. Here, we report a strategy for simulating Microplitis bicoloratus bracovirus using Mix-T dsRNA targeting 14 genes associated with transcription, translation, cell–cell communication, and humoral signaling pathways in the host, and from wasp extracellular superoxide dismutases. We implemented either one-time feeding to the younger instar larvae or spraying once on the corn leaves, to effectively control the invading pest Spodoptera frugiperda. This highlights the conserved principle of “biological pest control,” as elucidated by the triple interaction of parasitoid-bracovirus-host in a cooperation strategy of bracovirus against its pest host.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulating immunosuppressive mechanism of Microplitis bicoloratus bracovirus coordinately fights Spodoptera frugiperda

Li,

Ma,

Long

et al. 2023

Front. Immunol.

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Spraying dsRNA with chitosan formulation improves control of the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, in a greenhouse

Khan,

Jin,

Kim

2024

Insect Molecular Biology

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The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, is a serious pest causing both direct feeding damage and indirect harm by transmitting the tomato spotted wilt virus. A spraying double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA) targeted at the vacuolar‐type ATPase (vATPase) gene was developed and demonstrated high insecticidal activity in the laboratory but less effective in field applications. To improve control efficacy under field conditions, three strategies were explored in this study. First, to identify a more efficient RNA interference (RNAi) target, dsRNA specific to the Snf7 gene was tested alongside dsRNA targeting vATPase, and both were found to be similarly effective in controlling the thrips. Second, to elucidate the factors contributing to dsRNA resistance, dsRNA‐degrading enzymes were annotated and their physiological roles in diminishing RNAi efficacy were investigated. Third, to suppress the dsRNA degradation from the dsRNase activities and protect it in field conditions, the dsRNA was encapsulated with chitosan. This formulation enhanced the dsRNA's resistance to environmental stressors such as ultraviolet light and the digestive enzymes in the thrips' gut. Additionally, the chitosan formulation specifically increased the RNAi efficacy, likely by facilitating more efficient entry into the target cells, thus bolstering the insecticidal activity of the dsRNA. The formulated dsRNA was applied on F. occidentalis infesting the hot peppers in a greenhouse at a concentration of 500 ppm, demonstrating an 82.4% control efficacy compared with 59.2% control efficacy observed with the application of naked dsRNA. This study further demonstrated an enhancement in the spectrum of control by combining dsRNAs specific to three distinct thrips species, while the mixture showed no adverse effects on non‐target insects, such as the lepidopteran Spodoptera exigua. Collectively, these findings reveal that the chitosan formulation of dsRNA not only improves control efficacy under field conditions but also broadens the control spectrum against three different thrips pests.

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Asymmetric Synthesis and Biological Activity of Contact Pheromone of Western Flower Thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis

Lin,

Zhu,

et al. 2024

IJMS

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Western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, is a serious worldwide pest of agriculture and horticulture, and its contact pheromone is 7-methyltricosane. Two enantiomers of 7-methyltricosane were synthesized for the first time. The centra of our strategy were chiral auxiliaries to introduce stereocenter, and Wittig coupling to connect two blocks. The overall yields of our synthesis were 29–30% with seven steps. The electroantennogram (EAG) and the contact behavioral responses revealed that (R)-, (S)- and racemic 7-methyltricosane were separately bioactive, and the racemate was the most bioactive in the male arrestant activity and the female EAG test. This result provides valuable insights, showing that the racemate could be used for the support of the control of western flower thrips, which could be more easily prepared relative to more expensive enantiopure pheromone.

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Greenhouse test of spraying dsRNA to control the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, infesting hot peppers

Cited by 4 publications

References 45 publications

Simulating immunosuppressive mechanism of Microplitis bicoloratus bracovirus coordinately fights Spodoptera frugiperda

Simulating immunosuppressive mechanism of Microplitis bicoloratus bracovirus coordinately fights Spodoptera frugiperda

Spraying dsRNA with chitosan formulation improves control of the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, in a greenhouse

Asymmetric Synthesis and Biological Activity of Contact Pheromone of Western Flower Thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis

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