| Rising temperatures, dry periods and the loss of active ingredients are among the current challenges facing sugar beet cultivation. In particular, the heat-loving sugar beet weevil (Asproparthenis punctiventris) repeatedly causes losses with extensive crop failures in cultivation areas with less than 500 mm annual precipitation. Thus, new control measures against the pest are urgently needed. The development of plant protection products based on the natural mechanism of RNA interference (RNAi) offers great potential. In this process, double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules cause a highly selective and targeted interruption of the translation of selected mRNAs. In order to be able to use this mode of action against the sugar beet weevil in the future, the project is developing topical applications with pathogen-specific dsRNA molecules, so-called RNA sprays. For this purpose, at least three potential RNAi target genes will be identified bioinformatically using a reference transcriptome of the sugar beet weevil and the reference transcriptomes of selected non-target organisms. Species-specific dsRNA will be designed based on this information. In injection and feeding experiments with sugar beet weeveils, it will be investigated whether the RNAi-mediated silencing of these target genes leads to lethal effects or reduced reproduction. The functional studies under laboratory conditions will be followed by efficacy testing of the RNA sprays in field trials. The effect on honeybees, ladybugs and ground beetles will also be investigated in laboratory and greenhouse trials to assess the risk to non-target organisms.
Based on current knowledge, this approach will contribute to environmentally compatible agriculture with the least possible impact on biodiversity and natural environmental resources. |