Spray-Induced Gene Silencing (SIGS): Nanocarrier-Mediated dsRNA Delivery Improves RNAi Efficiency in the Management of Lettuce Gray Mold Caused by <i>Botrytis cinerea</i>
The plant pathogenic fungus <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> causes significant losses in agricultural production and it is rather difficult to control due to its broad host range and environmental persistence. The management of gray mold disease is still mainly based on the use of chemicals, whi...
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2025-01-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| author | Maria Spada Claudio Pugliesi Marco Fambrini Diego Palpacelli Andrea Caneo Susanna Pecchia |
| author_facet | Maria Spada Claudio Pugliesi Marco Fambrini Diego Palpacelli Andrea Caneo Susanna Pecchia |
| author_sort | Maria Spada |
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| description | The plant pathogenic fungus <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> causes significant losses in agricultural production and it is rather difficult to control due to its broad host range and environmental persistence. The management of gray mold disease is still mainly based on the use of chemicals, which could have harmful effects not only due to impacts on the environment and human health, but also because they favor the development of fungicide-resistant strains. In this scenario, the strategy of RNA interference (RNAi) is being widely considered, and Spray-Induced Gene Silencing (SIGS) is gaining interest as a versatile, sustainable, effective, and environmentally friendly alternative to the use of chemicals in the protection of crops. The SIGS approach was evaluated to control <i>B. cinerea</i> infection on lettuce plants. In vitro-synthesized dsRNA molecules (<i>BcBmp1</i>-, <i>BcBmp3</i>-, and <i>BcPls1</i>-dsRNAs) were used naked, or complexed to small layered double hydroxide (sLDH) clay nanosheets. Therefore, treatments were applied by pressure spraying whole lettuce plants lately inoculated with <i>B. cinerea</i>. All sprayed dsRNAs proved effective in reducing disease symptoms with a notable reduction compared to controls. The effectiveness of SIGS in reducing disease caused by <i>B. cinerea</i> was high overall and increased significantly with the use of sLDH clay nanosheets. The sLDH clay nanosheet–dsRNA complexes showed better plant protection over time compared to the use of naked dsRNA and this was particularly evident at 27 days post-inoculation. RNAi-based biocontrol could be an excellent alternative to chemical fungicides, and several RNAi-based products are expected to be approved soon, although they will face several challenges before reaching the market. |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj-art-366e55fd264b433f81df13459722549f2025-01-24T13:17:08ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952025-01-0115119410.3390/agronomy15010194Spray-Induced Gene Silencing (SIGS): Nanocarrier-Mediated dsRNA Delivery Improves RNAi Efficiency in the Management of Lettuce Gray Mold Caused by <i>Botrytis cinerea</i>Maria Spada0Claudio Pugliesi1Marco Fambrini2Diego Palpacelli3Andrea Caneo4Susanna Pecchia5Department of Agriculture Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, ItalyThe plant pathogenic fungus <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> causes significant losses in agricultural production and it is rather difficult to control due to its broad host range and environmental persistence. The management of gray mold disease is still mainly based on the use of chemicals, which could have harmful effects not only due to impacts on the environment and human health, but also because they favor the development of fungicide-resistant strains. In this scenario, the strategy of RNA interference (RNAi) is being widely considered, and Spray-Induced Gene Silencing (SIGS) is gaining interest as a versatile, sustainable, effective, and environmentally friendly alternative to the use of chemicals in the protection of crops. The SIGS approach was evaluated to control <i>B. cinerea</i> infection on lettuce plants. In vitro-synthesized dsRNA molecules (<i>BcBmp1</i>-, <i>BcBmp3</i>-, and <i>BcPls1</i>-dsRNAs) were used naked, or complexed to small layered double hydroxide (sLDH) clay nanosheets. Therefore, treatments were applied by pressure spraying whole lettuce plants lately inoculated with <i>B. cinerea</i>. All sprayed dsRNAs proved effective in reducing disease symptoms with a notable reduction compared to controls. The effectiveness of SIGS in reducing disease caused by <i>B. cinerea</i> was high overall and increased significantly with the use of sLDH clay nanosheets. The sLDH clay nanosheet–dsRNA complexes showed better plant protection over time compared to the use of naked dsRNA and this was particularly evident at 27 days post-inoculation. RNAi-based biocontrol could be an excellent alternative to chemical fungicides, and several RNAi-based products are expected to be approved soon, although they will face several challenges before reaching the market.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/1/194double stranded RNAmitogen-activated protein kinases<i>Bmp1</i><i>Bmp3</i><i>Pls1</i>sLDH clay nanosheets |
| spellingShingle | Maria Spada Claudio Pugliesi Marco Fambrini Diego Palpacelli Andrea Caneo Susanna Pecchia Spray-Induced Gene Silencing (SIGS): Nanocarrier-Mediated dsRNA Delivery Improves RNAi Efficiency in the Management of Lettuce Gray Mold Caused by <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> Agronomy double stranded RNA mitogen-activated protein kinases <i>Bmp1</i> <i>Bmp3</i> <i>Pls1</i> sLDH clay nanosheets |
| title | Spray-Induced Gene Silencing (SIGS): Nanocarrier-Mediated dsRNA Delivery Improves RNAi Efficiency in the Management of Lettuce Gray Mold Caused by <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> |
| title_full | Spray-Induced Gene Silencing (SIGS): Nanocarrier-Mediated dsRNA Delivery Improves RNAi Efficiency in the Management of Lettuce Gray Mold Caused by <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> |
| title_fullStr | Spray-Induced Gene Silencing (SIGS): Nanocarrier-Mediated dsRNA Delivery Improves RNAi Efficiency in the Management of Lettuce Gray Mold Caused by <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spray-Induced Gene Silencing (SIGS): Nanocarrier-Mediated dsRNA Delivery Improves RNAi Efficiency in the Management of Lettuce Gray Mold Caused by <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> |
| title_short | Spray-Induced Gene Silencing (SIGS): Nanocarrier-Mediated dsRNA Delivery Improves RNAi Efficiency in the Management of Lettuce Gray Mold Caused by <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> |
| title_sort | spray induced gene silencing sigs nanocarrier mediated dsrna delivery improves rnai efficiency in the management of lettuce gray mold caused by i botrytis cinerea i |
| topic | double stranded RNA mitogen-activated protein kinases <i>Bmp1</i> <i>Bmp3</i> <i>Pls1</i> sLDH clay nanosheets |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/1/194 |
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