The Japanese Beetle Control Near Airports and Cargo Transportation Facilities

I. Introduction: This Work Plan reflects a cooperative relationship between University of Kentucky and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ). It outlines the project specific goals, objectives, and anticipated accomplishments as well as the approach for testing the potential use of RNAi to control P. japonica near airports in the eastern united states that are used to ship materials to the western US and the related roles and responsibilities of the parties as negotiated. II. Background: Purpose of the project: The main goal of this proposal is to develop safer target-specific RNA interference-based methods to control the Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica. We recently discovered that double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) targeting Actin gene of P. japonica triggers efficient RNA interference (RNAi), resulting in impairment of muscle function, movement of body parts and stoppage of feeding by P. japonica adults. As a result, this product protects plants from damage by P. japonica and kills adult beetles. We hypothesize that the dsRNA targeting the Actin gene could be used for efficient control of P. japonica not only near airports, transportation facilities and nurseries but also to protect field crops, vegetable, and ornamental plants and turfgrass from its damage.