Plant-Generated Artificial Small RNAs Mediated Aphid Resistance

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0097410
• Publication Date: 2014-05-12T21:26:07Z
• Authors: Hongyan Guo; Xiaoguang Song; Guiling Wang; Kun Yang; Yu Wang; Libo Niu; Xiaoying Chen; Rongxiang Fang
• Keywords: RNA Silencing; Myzus persicae

Background RNA silencing is an important mechanism for regulation of endogenous gene expression and defense against genomic intruders in plants. This natural system was adopted to generate virus-resistant plants even before the unveiled. With clarification that mechanism, transgenic antiviral were developed expressed artificial virus-specific hairpin RNAs (hpRNAs) or microRNAs (amiRNAs) host Previous works also showed plant-mediated technology could be a practical method constructing insect-resistant by expressing hpRNAs targeting essential genes insects. Methodology/Principal findings In this study, we chose aphid Myzus persicae order Hemiptera as target insect. To screen vulnerable attack establish plant resistance, selected nine M. targets, constructed their hpRNA-expressing vectors. For acetylcholinesterase 2 coding (MpAChE2), two amiRNA-expressing vectors constructed. The transformed into tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanti). Insect challenge assays most gained among which those V-type proton ATPase subunit E-like (V-ATPaseE) tubulin folding cofactor D (TBCD) displayed stronger aphicidal activity. amiRNAs different sites MpAChE2 exhibited better resistance than MpAChE2-specific hpRNA. Conclusions/Significance Our results indicated insect-RNA might effective way develop resistant insects with piercing-sucking mouthparts, both selection biogenetic type small crucial effectiveness control. insect-specific amiRNA promising preferable approach engineer aphids and, possibly, other plant-infesting