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Q&A ViewAttendees 5

Plant-Insect Ecosystems

Student Competition 10-Minute Paper

Grad P-IE: IPM - Field Crops 2

Double-Stranded RNA as a potential tool for colorado potato beetle management

Monday, November 1, 2021
8:24 AM – 8:36 AM MT
Location: Colorado Convention Center, Four Seasons Ballroom 2-3
In-Person Student Competition

    Presenting Author(s)

  • SP

    Samuel J. Pallis

    Graduate Student
    University of Maine
    Tolland, Connecticut

    • Co-Author(s)

  • AA

    Andrei Alyokhin

    University of Maine
    Orono, Maine

  • BM

    Brian Manley

    GreenLight Biosciences
    Wake Forest, North Carolina

  • TR

    Thais Rodrigues

    Head of Discovery Biology
    GreenLight Biosciences
    Durham, North Carolina

  • AB

    Aaron Buzza

    Aroostook Farm
    Presque Isle, Maine

  • Kenneth Narva

    Head of Entomology, Research Fellow
    GreenLight Biosciences
    Research Triangle Park, North Carolina

The Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is one of the most notorious pests of the potato, Solanum tuberosum. Potato beetles are capable of developing resistance to various insecticides in relatively few generations. Novel and effective means of controlling Colorado potato beetle populations are constantly required to protect potato crops. The knockdown of gene functioning through ribonucleic acid interference (RNAi) has been demonstrated in Colorado potato beetles, suggesting the use of this technology as a means of beetle management. A novel double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) based insecticide has been tested in variable dose laboratory bioassays, followed by field studies. Exposure to this product resulted in both increased beetle mortality and decreased foliage consumption in all four instars and adult beetles. Effects decreased from earlier to later life stages. No ovicidal activity was detected. Onset of mortality was slower compared to the existing chemical insecticides. Based on the results of this study, this novel dsRNA-based insecticide has the ability to become a useful tool in controlling Colorado potato beetle populations through its application in integrated pest management protocols.