RNAi technologies for insect control in crop protection

RNA interference (RNAi) has been used for agricultural insect pest control based on silencing of targeted insect genes. However, the effectiveness of RNAi and its applications in insect pest control remain challenging. Here we review factors that may affect the effectiveness of RNAi application, inc...

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Main Authors: Xue Zhong, Xiudao Yu, Jiahui Zhang, Jiajing Xu, Mengchao Qin, Mingxin Cao, Frédéric Francis, Lanqin Xia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2025-08-01
Series:Crop Journal
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214514125001369
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author Xue Zhong
Xiudao Yu
Jiahui Zhang
Jiajing Xu
Mengchao Qin
Mingxin Cao
Frédéric Francis
Lanqin Xia
author_facet Xue Zhong
Xiudao Yu
Jiahui Zhang
Jiajing Xu
Mengchao Qin
Mingxin Cao
Frédéric Francis
Lanqin Xia
author_sort Xue Zhong
collection DOAJ
description RNA interference (RNAi) has been used for agricultural insect pest control based on silencing of targeted insect genes. However, the effectiveness of RNAi and its applications in insect pest control remain challenging. Here we review factors that may affect the effectiveness of RNAi application, including the variability in RNAi efficacy among different insect species, a limited understanding of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) uptake and systemic RNAi mechanisms, and the effective delivery of dsRNA in field conditions. Furthermore, we summarize recent progress in RNAi strategies for crop protection, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of RNAi-based insect control, and propose potential strategies to increase the effectiveness of RNAi in insect control.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2214-5141
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
record_format Article
series Crop Journal
spelling doaj-art-cefcb304e93d481aa90fc1aa77fd72f52025-08-22T04:56:31ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Crop Journal2214-51412025-08-011341009102110.1016/j.cj.2025.05.006RNAi technologies for insect control in crop protectionXue Zhong0Xiudao Yu1Jiahui Zhang2Jiajing Xu3Mengchao Qin4Mingxin Cao5Frédéric Francis6Lanqin Xia7State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liege, Passage des Déportés 2, B-5030 Gembloux, Belgium; Key Laboratory of Gene Editing Technologies, Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs (Hainan)/National Nanfan Research Institute (Sanya), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sanya 572024, Hainan, ChinaJiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Pest and Disease Control of Featured Horticultural Plants, College of Life Sciences, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, ChinaCollege of Life Science and Agronomy, Zhoukou Normal University, Zhoukou 466001, Henan, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; Key Laboratory of Gene Editing Technologies, Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs (Hainan)/National Nanfan Research Institute (Sanya), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sanya 572024, Hainan, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; Key Laboratory of Gene Editing Technologies, Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs (Hainan)/National Nanfan Research Institute (Sanya), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sanya 572024, Hainan, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; Key Laboratory of Gene Editing Technologies, Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs (Hainan)/National Nanfan Research Institute (Sanya), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sanya 572024, Hainan, ChinaFunctional and Evolutionary Entomology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liege, Passage des Déportés 2, B-5030 Gembloux, Belgium; Corresponding authors.State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; Key Laboratory of Gene Editing Technologies, Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs (Hainan)/National Nanfan Research Institute (Sanya), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sanya 572024, Hainan, China; Corresponding authors.RNA interference (RNAi) has been used for agricultural insect pest control based on silencing of targeted insect genes. However, the effectiveness of RNAi and its applications in insect pest control remain challenging. Here we review factors that may affect the effectiveness of RNAi application, including the variability in RNAi efficacy among different insect species, a limited understanding of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) uptake and systemic RNAi mechanisms, and the effective delivery of dsRNA in field conditions. Furthermore, we summarize recent progress in RNAi strategies for crop protection, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of RNAi-based insect control, and propose potential strategies to increase the effectiveness of RNAi in insect control.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214514125001369Crop protectionDouble-stranded RNA (dsRNA)Insect controlRNA interference (RNAi)
spellingShingle Xue Zhong
Xiudao Yu
Jiahui Zhang
Jiajing Xu
Mengchao Qin
Mingxin Cao
Frédéric Francis
Lanqin Xia
RNAi technologies for insect control in crop protection
Crop Journal
Crop protection
Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)
Insect control
RNA interference (RNAi)
title RNAi technologies for insect control in crop protection
title_full RNAi technologies for insect control in crop protection
title_fullStr RNAi technologies for insect control in crop protection
title_full_unstemmed RNAi technologies for insect control in crop protection
title_short RNAi technologies for insect control in crop protection
title_sort rnai technologies for insect control in crop protection
topic Crop protection
Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)
Insect control
RNA interference (RNAi)
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214514125001369
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