CONTROL OF INSECT PESTS THROUGH RNAI OF PHEROMONE BIOSYNTHESIS ACTIVATING NEUROPEPTIDE RECEPTOR

• US 20140093474A1
• Filed: 09/28/2012
• Published: 04/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Department Of Agriculture
• Original Assignee: United States Department Of Agriculture
• Inventors: Vander Meer, Robert K., Choi, Man Yeon
• Granted Patent: US 9,000,145 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/84
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/006 insecticidal
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 57/16 containing heterocyclic radicals
• CPC Class Codes: C07H 21/02 with ribosyl as saccharide radical

Abstract

Disclosed are dsRNA constructs and methods to control insects via double stranded RNA interference of insect PBAN receptor genes.

Claims

1. A double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) for inhibiting the expression of a pheromone-biosynthesis-activating neuropeptide receptor in a cell, wherein said dsRNA comprises a sense strand comprising a first sequence and an antisense strand comprising a second sequence complementary to SEQ. ID. NO. 2, wherein said first sequence is complementary to said second sequence.

2. The double-stranded ribonucleic acid of claim 1 wherein the double-stranded ribonucleic acid is expressed in a plant cell.

3. A double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) for inhibiting the expression of a pheromone-biosynthesis-activating neuropeptide receptor in a cell, wherein said dsRNA comprises a sense strand comprising a first sequence and an antisense strand comprising a second sequence complementary to SEQ. ID. NO. 4, wherein said first sequence is complementary to said second sequence.

4. The double-stranded ribonucleic acid of claim 3 wherein the double-stranded ribonucleic acid is expressed in a plant cell.

5. A method for controlling an insect, the method comprising:

constructing a double stranded ribonucleic acid construct that is complementary to a gene that encodes an PBAN receptor gene sequence, dissolving the double stranded ribonucleic acid to form a solution, and contacting an effective amount of said solution to insect, wherein RNA interference is induced and insect control occurs.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the insect is a Solenopsis spp.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the strand of the double stranded ribonucleic acid is complementary to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ. ID. NO. 2.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the solution is applied to Solenopsis spp. bait material.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the bait material contains a phagostimulant.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the double stranded ribonucleic acid construct is dissolved in water.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein pheromone production in Solenopsis spp. is decreased.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the pheromone is the recruitment pheromone Z,E-α

-farnesene.

13. The method of claim 5, wherein the insect is Helicoverpa spp.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein one strand of the double stranded ribonucleic acid is complementary to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ. ID. NO. 4.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the solution is applied to Helicoverpa spp. bait material.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the bait material contains a phagostimulant.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the double stranded ribonucleic acid construct is dissolved in water.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein pheromone production in Helicoverpa spp. is decreased.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the pheromone is cis-11-hexadecenal.