Plant protection through RNAi: Alternative for pesticides and chemical approaches to pest control

RNA interference (RNAi) has become a powerful genetic approach to systemically dissect gene function on a genome wide scale. Double stranded RNA (dsRNA) mediated gene silencing has been proven as a potential approach to control several insect pests including fruit fly, nematode, cotton bollworm, and corn rootworm. RNA interference (RNAi) induced by hairpin RNAs are new line of defence against coleopteran and lepidopteron pests. It was shown that insect larvae fed with plant material expressing dsRNA for the insect genes triggered the RNAi pathway in insect larvae and blocked the expression of target genes. The resulting reduction in larval growth and subsequent death has opened up new options for insect control involving the insect genes perse. Hence, protein targets for insect control strategies can be minimized or completely ignored. Prospecting for novel resistance mechanisms depend on the plant generating an effective form of double-stranded RNA in the absence of an endogenous target gene without detrimental effect to itself. Although the amazing popularity of RNAi as a biotechnology tool is certainly justified, the underlying biology is still being worked out and the relative advantages and disadvantages of the approach are being efficiently addressed using emerging Bioinformatic tools and many genome sequences. In this review we would like to highlight the attempts of pest control using gene silencing or RNAi technology, few strategies, target genes for RNAi in insects, target site of action, and probable likely targets for RNAi in insects and plants for potential durable pest resistance mechanisms. © 2011 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved