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Cheng Y, Wang P, Zeng Y, An W, Wang T, Xiao Y. Characterization of five pigmentation genes as transgenic markers in Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Int J Biol Macromol 2023:124981. [PMID: 37236572 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.124981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), has become one of the most damaging pests worldwide since its invasion of Africa, Asia and Oceania from 2016, threatening plants in 76 families including important crops. Genetics-based methods have proved to be an efficient way to control pests, especially invasive species, but many difficulties must be overcome to develop a transgenic insect strain, especially for a non-model species. Here we thus sought to identify a visible marker that would facilitate the distinction between genetically modified (GM) and non-transgenic insects, thereby simplifying mutation identification and facilitating the broader application of genome editing tools in non-model insects. Five genes (sfyellow-y, sfebony, sflaccase2, sfscarlet, and sfok) that are orthologs of well-studied genes in pigment metabolism were knocked out using the CRISPR/Cas9 system to identify candidate gene markers. Two genes, Sfebony and Sfscarlet, were identified responsible for body and compound eye coloration, respectively, in S. frugiperda, and could be potential visual markers for genetics-based pest management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Cheng
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Gene Editing Technologies(Hainan), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Gene Editing Technologies(Hainan), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yuxiao Zeng
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Gene Editing Technologies(Hainan), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wenwen An
- School of Life Science and Technology, Jining Normal University, Jining, China
| | - Tao Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, Hubei Engineering University, Xiaogan, China
| | - Yutao Xiao
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Gene Editing Technologies(Hainan), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China.
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Hasnain M, Saeed S, Naeem-Ullah U, Ullah S. Evaluation of chemosterility effect of different insect growth regulators on Bactrocera zonata population. Sci Prog 2023; 106:368504231155388. [PMID: 36803156 PMCID: PMC10450315 DOI: 10.1177/00368504231155388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
The indiscriminate application of synthetic pesticides on horticultural plants for the management of Bactrocera zonata has both economic and environmental implications due to the biomagnification of harmful residues in humans via the food chain. This necessitates the use of some eco-friendly control measures such as insect growth regulators (IGRs) as an alternative. A laboratory experiment was laid out to determine the potential chemosterilant effect of five IGRs including pyriproxyfen, novaluron, lufenuron, buprofezin, and flubendiamide at six different concentrations on B. zonata after treating adult diet. Using the oral bioassay, B. zonata were fed on IGRs impregnated diet (50-300 ppm/5 mL diet) which was replaced with the normal diet after 24 h of feeding. Ten pairs of B. zonata were placed in a separate plastic cage accommodating an ovipositor attractant guava for eggs collection and calculation. An analysis of the result revealed that fecundity and hatchability were higher at a low dose and vice versa. Lufenuron at 300 ppm/5 mL of diet significantly decreased the fecundity rate (31.1%) as compared to pyriproxyfen, novaluron, buprofezin and flubendiamide, which had 39.3%, 39.3%, 43.8%, and 47.5%, respectively. The lowest hatchability (19.9%) was noted in lufenuron treated diet followed by pyriproxyfen, novaluron, buprofezin, and flubendiamide, which had 22.1%, 25.0%, 30.9%, and 31.6%, respectively. Furthermore, in a population of crosses between the lufenuron treated male and female, a significant decrease in fecundity (45.5%) and hatchability (51.7%) was noted as compared to other IGRs. Overall, this study identified the chemosterilant potential of lufenuron on the population of B. zonata which can be integrated for its management strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Hasnain
- Institute of Plan Protection, MNS University of Agriculture, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Shafqat Saeed
- Institute of Plan Protection, MNS University of Agriculture, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Unsar Naeem-Ullah
- Institute of Plan Protection, MNS University of Agriculture, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Sami Ullah
- Department of Horticulture, MNS University of Agriculture, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan
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Vasquez DDN, Pinheiro DH, Teixeira LA, Moreira-Pinto CE, Macedo LLP, Salles-Filho ALO, Silva MCM, Lourenço-Tessutti IT, Morgante CV, Silva LP, Grossi-de-Sa MF. Simultaneous silencing of juvenile hormone metabolism genes through RNAi interrupts metamorphosis in the cotton boll weevil. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1073721. [PMID: 36950526 PMCID: PMC10025338 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1073721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The cotton boll weevil (CBW) (Anthonomus grandis) is one of the major insect pests of cotton in Brazil. Currently, CBW control is mainly achieved by insecticide application, which is costly and insufficient to ensure effective crop protection. RNA interference (RNAi) has been used in gene function analysis and the development of insect control methods. However, some insect species respond poorly to RNAi, limiting the widespread application of this approach. Therefore, nanoparticles have been explored as an option to increase RNAi efficiency in recalcitrant insects. Herein, we investigated the potential of chitosan-tripolyphosphate (CS-TPP) and polyethylenimine (PEI) nanoparticles as a dsRNA carrier system to improve RNAi efficiency in the CBW. Different formulations of the nanoparticles with dsRNAs targeting genes associated with juvenile hormone metabolism, such as juvenile hormone diol kinase (JHDK), juvenile hormone epoxide hydrolase (JHEH), and methyl farnesoate hydrolase (MFE), were tested. The formulations were delivered to CBW larvae through injection (0.05-2 µg), and the expression of the target genes was evaluated using RT-qPCR. PEI nanoparticles increased targeted gene silencing compared with naked dsRNAs (up to 80%), whereas CS-TPP-dsRNA nanoparticles decreased gene silencing (0%-20%) or led to the same level of gene silencing as the naked dsRNAs (up to 50%). We next evaluated the effects of targeting a single gene or simultaneously targeting two genes via the injection of naked dsRNAs or dsRNAs complexed with PEI (500 ng) on CBW survival and phenotypes. Overall, the gene expression analysis showed that the treatments with PEI targeting either a single gene or multiple genes induced greater gene silencing than naked dsRNA (∼60%). In addition, the injection of dsJHEH/JHDK, either naked or complexed with PEI, significantly affected CBW survival (18% for PEI nanoparticles and 47% for naked dsRNA) and metamorphosis. Phenotypic alterations, such as uncompleted pupation or malformed pupae, suggested that JHEH and JHDK are involved in developmental regulation. Moreover, CBW larvae treated with dsJHEH/JHDK + PEI (1,000 ng/g) exhibited significantly lower survival rate (55%) than those that were fed the same combination of naked dsRNAs (30%). Our findings demonstrated that PEI nanoparticles can be used as an effective tool for evaluating the biological role of target genes in the CBW as they increase the RNAi response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel D. N. Vasquez
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, Brazil
- Catholic University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | | | - Lays A. Teixeira
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, Brazil
- Catholic University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- Embrapa Café, Brasília, Brazil
| | | | - Leonardo L. P. Macedo
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology (INCT PlantStress Biotech), Embrapa, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Alvaro L. O. Salles-Filho
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, Brazil
- Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Maria C. M. Silva
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology (INCT PlantStress Biotech), Embrapa, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Isabela T. Lourenço-Tessutti
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology (INCT PlantStress Biotech), Embrapa, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Carolina V. Morgante
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology (INCT PlantStress Biotech), Embrapa, Brasília, Brazil
- Embrapa SemiArid, Petrolina, Brazil
| | | | - Maria F. Grossi-de-Sa
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, Brazil
- Catholic University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology (INCT PlantStress Biotech), Embrapa, Brasília, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Maria F. Grossi-de-Sa,
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Stabilized Double-Stranded RNA Strategy Improves Cotton Resistance to CBW ( Anthonomus grandis). Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232213713. [PMID: 36430188 PMCID: PMC9691246 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232213713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cotton is the most important crop for fiber production worldwide. However, the cotton boll weevil (CBW) is an insect pest that causes significant economic losses in infested areas. Current control methods are costly, inefficient, and environmentally hazardous. Herein, we generated transgenic cotton lines expressing double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules to trigger RNA interference-mediated gene silencing in CBW. Thus, we targeted three essential genes coding for chitin synthase 2, vitellogenin, and ecdysis-triggering hormone receptor. The stability of expressed dsRNAs was improved by designing a structured RNA based on a viroid genome architecture. We transformed cotton embryos by inserting a promoter-driven expression cassette that overexpressed the dsRNA into flower buds. The transgenic cotton plants were characterized, and positive PCR transformed events were detected with an average heritability of 80%. Expression of dsRNAs was confirmed in floral buds by RT-qPCR, and the T1 cotton plant generation was challenged with fertilized CBW females. After 30 days, data showed high mortality (around 70%) in oviposited yolks. In adult insects fed on transgenic lines, chitin synthase II and vitellogenin showed reduced expression in larvae and adults, respectively. Developmental delays and abnormalities were also observed in these individuals. Our data remark on the potential of transgenic cotton based on a viroid-structured dsRNA to control CBW.
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de Moura SM, Freitas EO, Ribeiro TP, Paes-de-Melo B, Arraes FBM, Macedo LLP, Paixão JFR, Lourenço-Tessutti IT, Artico S, da Cunha Valença D, Silva MCM, de Oliveira AC, Alves-Ferreira M, Grossi-de-Sa MF. Discovery and functional characterization of novel cotton promoters with potential application to pest control. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2022; 41:1589-1601. [PMID: 35665839 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-022-02880-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
pGhERF105 and pGhNc-HARBI1 promoters are highly responsive to CBW infestation and exhibit strong activity in vegetative and reproductive tissues, increasing their potential application in GM crop plants for pest control. The main challenge to cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) crop productivity is the constant attack of several pests, including the cotton boll weevil (CBW, Anthonomus grandis), which uses cotton floral buds for feeding and egg-laying. The endophytic nature of the early developmental stages of CBW makes conventional pesticide-based control poorly efficient. Most biotechnological assets used for pest control are based on Bacillus thurigiensis insecticidal Cry toxins or the silencing of insect-pest essential genes using RNA-interference technology. However, suitable plant promoter sequences are required to efficiently drive insecticidal molecules to the target plant tissue. This study selected the Ethylene Responsive Factor 105 (GhERF105) and Harbinger transposase-derived nuclease (GhNc-HARBI1) genes based on available transcriptome-wide data from cotton plants infested by CBW larvae. The GhERF105 and GhNc-HARBI1 genes showed induction kinetics from 2 to 96 h under CBW's infestation in cotton floral buds, uncovering the potential application of their promoters. Therefore, the promoter regions (1,500 base pairs) were assessed and characterized using Arabidopsis thaliana transgenic plants. The pGhERF105 and pGhNc-HARBI1 promoters showed strong activity in plant vegetative (leaves and roots) and reproductive (flowers and fruits) tissues, encompassing higher GUS transcriptional activity than the viral-constitutive Cauliflower Mosaic Virus 35S promoter (pCaMV35S). Notably, pGhERF105 and pGhNc-HARBI1 promoters demonstrated more efficiency in driving reporter genes in flowers than other previously characterized cotton flower-specific promoters. Overall, the present study provides a new set of cotton promoters suitable for biotechnological application in cotton plants for pest resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéfanie Menezes de Moura
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, PqEB, Final W5 North, PO Box 02372, Brasília, DF, 70770-917, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, EMBRAPA, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Elinea Oliveira Freitas
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, PqEB, Final W5 North, PO Box 02372, Brasília, DF, 70770-917, Brazil
- Federal University of Brasilia (UnB), Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Thuanne Pires Ribeiro
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, PqEB, Final W5 North, PO Box 02372, Brasília, DF, 70770-917, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, EMBRAPA, Brasília, DF, Brazil
- Federal University of Brasilia (UnB), Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Bruno Paes-de-Melo
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, PqEB, Final W5 North, PO Box 02372, Brasília, DF, 70770-917, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, EMBRAPA, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Fabrício B M Arraes
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, PqEB, Final W5 North, PO Box 02372, Brasília, DF, 70770-917, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, EMBRAPA, Brasília, DF, Brazil
- Federal University of Rio Grande Do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Lima Pepino Macedo
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, PqEB, Final W5 North, PO Box 02372, Brasília, DF, 70770-917, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, EMBRAPA, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Joaquin F R Paixão
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, PqEB, Final W5 North, PO Box 02372, Brasília, DF, 70770-917, Brazil
| | - Isabela T Lourenço-Tessutti
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, PqEB, Final W5 North, PO Box 02372, Brasília, DF, 70770-917, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, EMBRAPA, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Sinara Artico
- Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - David da Cunha Valença
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, PqEB, Final W5 North, PO Box 02372, Brasília, DF, 70770-917, Brazil
| | - Maria Cristina Mattar Silva
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, PqEB, Final W5 North, PO Box 02372, Brasília, DF, 70770-917, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, EMBRAPA, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Antonio C de Oliveira
- National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, EMBRAPA, Brasília, DF, Brazil
- Federal University of Pelotas (UFPEL), Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Marcio Alves-Ferreira
- National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, EMBRAPA, Brasília, DF, Brazil
- Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Maria Fatima Grossi-de-Sa
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, PqEB, Final W5 North, PO Box 02372, Brasília, DF, 70770-917, Brazil.
- National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, EMBRAPA, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
- Catholic University of Brasília (UCB), Brasília, DF, Brazil.
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