Gene Silencing of Sarco/Endoplasmic Reticulum Ca<sup>2+</sup>-ATPase and NADPH–Cytochrome P450 Reductase as a Novel Approach to <i>Leptinotarsa decemlineata</i> Management

Gene Silencing of Sarco/Endoplasmic Reticulum Ca<sup>2+</sup>-ATPase and NADPH–Cytochrome P450 Reductase as a Novel Approach to <i>Leptinotarsa decemlineata</i> Management

The Colorado Potato Beetle (CPB, <i>Leptinotarsa decemlineata</i> Say, Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) remains a destructive agricultural pest worldwide that continually overcomes conventional control methods. In recent years, RNA interference (RNAi) has emerged as an alternative for its mana...

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Main Authors: Maribel Mendoza-Alatorre, Tania Samanta Siqueiros-Cendón, Jorge Ariel Torres-Castillo, Sugey Ramona Sinagawa-García, Blanca Flor Iglesias-Figueroa, María Jazmín Abraham-Juárez, Carmen Daniela González-Barriga, Quintín Rascón-Cruz, Luis Ignacio Siañez-Estrada, Edward Alexander Espinoza-Sánchez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Agronomy
Subjects:
<i>Leptinotarsa decemlineata</i>
<i>SERCA</i> gene
<i>CPR</i> gene
RNA interference
transcript levels
mortality
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/5/1151
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Summary:The Colorado Potato Beetle (CPB, <i>Leptinotarsa decemlineata</i> Say, Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) remains a destructive agricultural pest worldwide that continually overcomes conventional control methods. In recent years, RNA interference (RNAi) has emerged as an alternative for its management; however, although promising results have been reported, its effectiveness has been influenced by several factors, including the length of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), the delivery method, stability, and especially the selection of the target gene. In this study, we designed and synthesized 290 bp dsRNAs targeting the <i>SERCA</i> and <i>CPR</i> genes from <i>L. decemlineata</i>, which encode the Sarco/Endoplasmic Reticulum Ca<sup>2</sup>⁺-ATPase and NADPH–Cytochrome P450 Reductase, respectively. Both dsRNAs successfully reduced transcript levels in larvae, with ds<i>SERCA</i> achieving ~60% knockdown by day 3 and ds<i>CPR</i> achieving ~50% knockdown by day 7. Furthermore, both treatments affected the larval growth and survival rate. However, while the ds<i>CPR</i>-treated larvae showed a 59% reduction in weight gain, the administration of ds<i>SERCA</i> had a strong phenotypic effect on the larvae, leading to decreased feeding, a 50.4% reduction in weight gain, and ultimately, 100% mortality. These results suggest that the <i>SERCA</i> and <i>CPR</i> genes could be promising targets for <i>L. decemlineata</i> control and emphasize the importance of appropriate target gene selection for RNAi silencing, as well as the need to explore and validate new genes for RNAi-mediated pest management.
ISSN:2073-4395

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