RNA interference: History, mechanisms, and applications in pest management

RNA interference (RNAi) is emerging as a new technology for use in arthropod pest management. Unique features of RNAi-based methods including the specificity to the target pests and ability to knock down genes associated with insecticide resistance make this technology superior to the currently used pest management methods. The RNAi works best in coleopteran insects and also works well in some hemipteran insects. The RNAi does not work well in dipterans and lepidopteron insects. The RNAi could be used to study biology of insects, identify new target sites, fight insecticide resistance, regulate metabolism, produce sterile male insects, and suppress insect pest’s populations. In the near future, further research to improve RNAi in insects belonging to Hemiptera, Lepidoptera, and other orders will lead to development of efficient and cheaper methods for production and delivery of double-stranded RNA, understanding potential for resistance development and effects on nontarget organisms. This will help in moving RNAi technology to field applications.