Journal article
Responses of two ladybird beetle species (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) to dietary RNAi.
- Haller S Research Division Agroecology and Environment, Agroscope, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Widmer F Competence Division Method Development and Analytics, Agroscope, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Siegfried BD Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
- Zhuo X Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
- Romeis J Research Division Agroecology and Environment, Agroscope, Zurich, Switzerland.
- 2019-02-08
Published in:
- Pest management science. - 2019
Adalia bipunctata
Coccinella septempunctata
Diabrotica virgifera virgifera
dsRNA
environmental risk assessment
non-target effects
vATPase A
Animals
Coleoptera
Diet
Insect Control
Moths
RNA Interference
RNA, Double-Stranded
Species Specificity
English
BACKGROUND
One concern with the adoption of RNAi-based genetically engineered (GE) crops is the potential harm to valued non-target organisms. Species of Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) are important natural enemies and might be exposed to the insecticidal dsRNA produced by the plant. To assess their susceptibility to dietary RNAi, we fed Adalia bipunctata and Coccinella septempunctata with a dsRNA designed to target the vATPase A of the western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (Dvv dsRNA). Specific dsRNAs designed to target the vATPase A of the two ladybird beetle species served as positive controls.
RESULTS
Our results revealed that both species were sensitive to dietary RNAi when ingesting their own dsRNAs, with C. septempunctata being more sensitive than A. bipunctata. Dvv dsRNA also adversely affected the two ladybird beetles as indicated by a significantly (but marginally) prolonged developmental time for A. bipunctata and a significantly reduced survival rate for C. septempunctata. These results, however, were obtained at Dvv dsRNA concentrations that were orders of magnitude higher than expected to occur in the field. Gene expression analyses confirmed the bioactivity of the dsRNA treatments and the results from the feeding bioassays. These results are consistent with the bioinformatics analyses, which revealed a higher number of 21-nucleotide-long matches, a requirement for effective RNAi, of the Dvv dsRNA with the vATPase A of C. septempunctata (34 matches) than with that of A. bipunctata (six matches).
CONCLUSION
Feeding bioassays revealed that two ladybird species are responsive to dietary RNAi. The two species, however, differed in their sensitivity. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.
One concern with the adoption of RNAi-based genetically engineered (GE) crops is the potential harm to valued non-target organisms. Species of Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) are important natural enemies and might be exposed to the insecticidal dsRNA produced by the plant. To assess their susceptibility to dietary RNAi, we fed Adalia bipunctata and Coccinella septempunctata with a dsRNA designed to target the vATPase A of the western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (Dvv dsRNA). Specific dsRNAs designed to target the vATPase A of the two ladybird beetle species served as positive controls.
RESULTS
Our results revealed that both species were sensitive to dietary RNAi when ingesting their own dsRNAs, with C. septempunctata being more sensitive than A. bipunctata. Dvv dsRNA also adversely affected the two ladybird beetles as indicated by a significantly (but marginally) prolonged developmental time for A. bipunctata and a significantly reduced survival rate for C. septempunctata. These results, however, were obtained at Dvv dsRNA concentrations that were orders of magnitude higher than expected to occur in the field. Gene expression analyses confirmed the bioactivity of the dsRNA treatments and the results from the feeding bioassays. These results are consistent with the bioinformatics analyses, which revealed a higher number of 21-nucleotide-long matches, a requirement for effective RNAi, of the Dvv dsRNA with the vATPase A of C. septempunctata (34 matches) than with that of A. bipunctata (six matches).
CONCLUSION
Feeding bioassays revealed that two ladybird species are responsive to dietary RNAi. The two species, however, differed in their sensitivity. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- closed
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.1002/ps.5370
- PMID 30729648
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.ch/global/documents/235362
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