RNA interference‐mediated silencing of NOA and V‐ATPase subunit D genes results in deformities and mortality in Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel, 1912)

Abstract

The Oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) is one of the five disastrous pests in the world with an economical significance. The guava germplasm resilient to fruit fly is not reported worldwide to date. The utilization of RNA interference (RNAi) approach can offer a promising alternative for fruit fly management in guava. The goal of our investigation is to evaluate the efficiency of dsRNA expression based on Escherichia coli used in B. dorsalis management by addressing its two indispensable genes, fatty acid elongase (NOA) and Vacuolar‐type H+‐ATPases D (v‐ATPase D). An artificial diet having E. coli strain HT115 (DE3) containing BdNOA, Bdv‐ATPase D dsRNA fed to maggots resulted in deformities with drastic mortality in treated adults, emerged pupae and maggots. The deformity together with total mortality in B. dorsalis was recorded at maximum as 74.66% and 64.20% in bacteria expressing dsRNAs of BdNOA and Bdv‐ATPase D, respectively, at 700 μL as compared to 350, 200 μL treatments. Severe deformities were reported such as underdeveloped abdomen, absence of wings, legs and inadequate eclosion along with suppressed target gene expression in B. dorsalis. This investigation thus provides a potential RNAi‐based pest management by targeting two key genes through feeding dsRNA‐expressing bacteria in B. dorsalis.