Knockdown of the ecdysone receptor disrupts development and causes mortality in the melon fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae
2023
Ahmad, Shakil | Jamil, Momana | Jaworski, Coline | Wu, Yuejie | Palma-Onetto, Valeria | Lyu, Baoqian | Luo, Yanping | Hainan University | Institut Sophia Agrobiotech (ISA) ; Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (1965 - 2019) (UNS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)-Université Côte d'Azur (UniCA) | Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción (UCSC) | Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs ; Partenaires INRAE | Hainan Province Science and Technology Special FundZDYF2022XDNY138ZDKJ2021007Hainan Provincial Natural Science Foundation Youth Fund Project322QN254National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)32260685
International audience
显示更多 [+] 显示较少 [-]英语. Cucurbits are important economic plants that are attacked by numerous pests, among which the melon fly Zeugodacus cucurbitae is extremely problematic. New sustainable pest control strategies are necessary to replace chemical insecticides that are harmful to the environment, human health and nontarget species. The RNA interference (RNAi) technology is one of the most promising tools due to high efficiency and species specificity. We developed an RNAi strategy targeting the ecdysone receptor ( ECR ) of Z. cucurbitae , which plays an important role in moulting and reproduction. We identified, described and isolated the ECR gene of Z. cucurbitae and measured its expression pattern across developmental stages and tissues. ZcECR knockdown via ds ZcECR ingestion caused a significant larval mortality and abnormal phenotypes in pupae and adults. About 68% of larvae fed with a ds ZcECR ‐treated diet failed to enter the pupal stage and died. In addition, ZcECR knockdown dramatically reduced pupal weight (by 3.24 mg on average) and fecundity (by about 23%). RNAi targeting the ECR gene is therefore a promising method to control Z. cucurbitae , paving the way for the development of novel sustainable and highly specific control strategies.
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