RNA interference mediated gene silencing in fruit fly [Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel)]
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Date
2019
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Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Abstract
The oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) is serious pest infesting important fruits and vegetables throughout the world. In Punjab, it infests damage of 70-80 per cent each in peach and Kinnow, 60-80 per cent in pear, 50 per cent in jamun, 30-40 per cent each in loquat, fig, plum and mango, and 100 per cent in guava fruits during rainy season and thus, fruit fly is a major concern in Punjab. Control of fruit fly is highly challenging because of its polyphagous nature and unexposed developmental stages and limitations of existing methods. This has now necessitated the biotechnological intervention for fruit fly management. In present investigation double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-mediated gene silencing in guava fruit fly was attempted. Specific regions of four genes of fruit fly i.e. ecr (ecdysone receptor), rpl19 (a ribosomal protein L19), noa (fatty acid elongase) and v-ATPase-D important for its growth, development, molting, metamorphosis and energy production were cloned in dsRNA expression vector and transformation was done into HT115 (DE3) Escherichia coli strain for dsRNA production. Silencing effects were observed by feeding artificial diet mixed with bacteria expressing dsRNA corresponding to ecr and rpl19 genes to maggot and adult fruit fly. The results showed severe deformities in pupae and adult fruit fly and mortality indicating the feasibility of dsRNA delivery method and silencing of these potential genes of fruit fly. In future, transgenic fruit crops expressing dsRNA of these potential genes of fruit fly and/or spray based dsRNA formulations could be developed for fruit fly management.
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