CRISPR/Cas9-Based Genome Editing of Fall Armyworm (<i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i>): Progress and Prospects

The fall armyworm (<i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i>) poses a substantial threat to many important crops worldwide, emphasizing the need to develop and implement advanced technologies for effective pest control. CRISPR/Cas9, derived from the bacterial adaptive immune system, is a prominent to...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yussuf Mohamed Salum, Anyuan Yin, Uroosa Zaheer, Yuanyuan Liu, Yi Guo, Weiyi He
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-08-01
Series:Biomolecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/14/9/1074
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Summary:The fall armyworm (<i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i>) poses a substantial threat to many important crops worldwide, emphasizing the need to develop and implement advanced technologies for effective pest control. CRISPR/Cas9, derived from the bacterial adaptive immune system, is a prominent tool used for genome editing in living organisms. Due to its high specificity and adaptability, the CRISPR/Cas9 system has been used in various functional gene studies through gene knockout and applied in research to engineer phenotypes that may cause economical losses. The practical application of CRISPR/Cas9 in diverse insect orders has also provided opportunities for developing strategies for genetic pest control, such as gene drive and the precision-guided sterile insect technique (pgSIT). In this review, a comprehensive overview of the recent progress in the application of the CRISPR/Cas9 system for functional gene studies in <i>S. frugiperda</i> is presented. We outline the fundamental principles of applying CRISPR/Cas9 in <i>S. frugiperda</i> through embryonic microinjection and highlight the application of CRISPR/Cas9 in the study of genes associated with diverse biological aspects, including body color, insecticide resistance, olfactory behavior, sex determination, development, and RNAi. The ability of CRISPR/Cas9 technology to induce sterility, disrupt developmental stages, and influence mating behaviors illustrates its comprehensive roles in pest management strategies. Furthermore, this review addresses the limitations of the CRISPR/Cas9 system in studying gene function in <i>S. frugiperda</i> and explores its future potential as a promising tool for controlling this insect pest.
ISSN:2218-273X