RNA interference as a gene silencing tool to control Tuta absoluta in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum).

ABSTRACT: RNA interference (RNAi), a gene-silencing mechanism that involves providing double-stranded RNA molecules that match a specific target gene sequence, is now widely used in functional genetic studies. The potential application of RNAi-mediated control of agricultural insect pests has rapidly become evident. The production of transgenic plants expressing dsRNA molecules that target essential insect genes could provide a means of specific gene silencing in larvae that feed on these plants, resulting in larval phenotypes that range from loss of appetite to death. In this report, we show that the tomato leafminer ( Tuta absoluta ), a major threat to commercial tomato production, can be targeted by RNAi. We selected two target genes (Vacuolar ATPase-A and Arginine kinase<

SUBMITTER: Camargo RA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5162399 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature