Contribution
Assessing RNAi feasibility and susceptibility to environmental RNAi in Trichogramma dendrolimi
Yan, Zhi-chao; Li, Fang-yi; Wang, Ao-kai; Wang, Cheng-xing; Wang, Hai-yan; Yu, Ze-qi; Wang, Ke-peng; Wang, Yi-han; Luo, Yuan-yuan; Li, Yuan-xi
Entomologia Generalis Volume 44 Number 3 (2024), p. 663 - 672
publié: Jul 29, 2024
publication en ligne: Jun 26, 2024
manuscrit accepté: Feb 27, 2024
révision final du manuscrit reçu: Feb 16, 2024
révision du manuscrit demandée: Sep 26, 2023
manuscrit reçu: Jul 24, 2023
DOI: 10.1127/entomologia/2023/2210
ArtNo. ESP146004403020, Prix: 29.00 €
Abstract
Trichogramma, a genus of egg parasitoid wasps, are widely used as biological control agents and serve as model organisms in parasitoid research. Despite their significance, the understanding of RNA interference (RNAi) in Trichogramma remains very limited. We identified RNAi-associated genes by bioinformatic approaches and experimentally assessed the feasibility of gene knockdown via RNAi for gene functional studies, as well as the susceptibility of T. dendrolimi to envionmental RNAi (dsRNAs targeting 12 genes ). We found that Trichogramma genomes contain a complete set of genes in the RNAi pathway and exhibit extensive gene expansion of dsRNase, which may influence RNAi efficiency by degrading dsRNA. We demonstrated successful RNAi through pupal microinjection in T. dendrolimi Matsumura, providing a technical approach for future gene functional studies. In addition, we observed no evidence of susceptibility to environmental RNAi in either T. dendrolimi adults or larvae. This low environmental RNAi sensitivity in Trichogramma could suggest a reduced risk of RNAi-based pest management strategies affecting nontarget Trichogramma populations. Overall, this study presents a technical approach for conducting gene functional studies in Trichogramma and provides a foundation for evaluating the nontarget effects of RNAi-based pest control strategies on Trichogramma.
Mots-clefs
egg parasitoid • RNA interference • environmental RNAi • dsRNase • risk assessment