AUTHOR=Petek Marko , Coll Anna , Ferenc Rok , Razinger Jaka , Gruden Kristina 

TITLE=Validating the Potential of Double-Stranded RNA Targeting Colorado Potato Beetle Mesh Gene in Laboratory and Field Trials

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2020

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2020.01250

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2020.01250

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=Colorado potato beetle (CPB) is an agricultural pest of solanaceous crops notorious for its rapid resistance development to chemical pesticides. Foliar spraying of dsRNA formulations is a promising innovative technology providing highly specific and environmentally acceptable option of CPB management. 

We designed and in-vitro synthesized dsRNA to silence CPB mesh gene (dsMESH) and performed laboratory feeding trials to assess impacts on beetle survival and development. We compared the effectiveness of in-vivo and in-vitro produced dsRNA in a series of laboratory experiments and performed a field trial in which in-vitro produced dsRNA was applied to potato foliage by spraying and its efficacy compared to a spinosad-based insecticide.

We have shown that dsMESH ingestion consistently and significantly impaired larval growth and decreased larval survival in laboratory feeding experiments. In-vivo produced dsRNA performed similarly as in-vitro synthesized dsRNA in laboratory settings. In the field trial, dsMESH was as effective in controlling CPB larvae as a commercial spinosad insecticide, only its activity was slower. We discuss limitations and benefits of a potential dsMESH-based CPB management strategy and list some important RNAi based CPB research topics, which will have to be addressed.