Improvement Of RNAi Methods For Management Of Lepidopteran Pests

RNA interference (RNAi)-based pest management methods are attractive because of their target-specific action. Several RNAi-based products have been registered or are in the pipeline for commercialization to control coleopteran pests. RNAi in lepidopteran insects is not as efficient as in coleopterans. Therefore, the development of RNAi methods for lepidopteran pest management is lagging behind. Recently, significant breakthroughs have been made in the identification of the basis for RNAi efficiency differences among insects. This application proposes to capitalize on these developments to develop RNAi methods to control fall armyworm (FAW) and other lepidopteran pests. The FAW is a devastating pest that causes economic losses to many crops. Voracious feeding, year-round breeding, and a highly efficient detoxification system make this a difficult pest to manage. About 50-65% mortality of FAW larvae was achieved using nanoformulations of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) targeting the inhibitor of apoptosis gene. The main goal of this proposal is to develop methods to achieve 100% mortality of FAW larvae. Screening additional target genes to induce feeding inhibition and mortality in early instar larvae and improving the delivery of dsRNA by testing nanoformulations and fungus-mediated delivery will be conducted. The best dsRNA and delivery method will be further optimized in greenhouse trials and tested in the field as well as for non-target effects. This proposal addresses the focus research area fundamental research on biotic and abiotic factors affecting the abundance or spread of agriculturally-important plant pests, in Pests and Beneficial Species in Agricultural Production Systems, Program Area Priority Code – A1112 1c