Find in Library
Search millions of books, articles, and more
Indexed Open Access Databases
The <i>Metarhizium anisopliae</i> Strains Expressing dsRNA of the <i>NlCHSA</i> Enhance Virulence to the Brown Planthopper <i>Nilaparvata lugens</i>
oleh: Jun Hu, He Cui, Mingsheng Hong, Yuxian Xia, Wenqing Zhang
Format: | Article |
---|---|
Diterbitkan: | MDPI AG 2022-09-01 |
Deskripsi
<i>Metarhizium anisopliae</i> is a broad-spectrum entomopathogenic fungus with large-scale applications in pest control; however, its slow-killing action is a limiting factor. To enhance fungal virulence, we constructed transgenic <i>M. anisopliae</i> strains that expressed dsRNA targeting the chitin synthase gene A in the brown planthopper <i>Nilaparvata lugens</i> (<i>NlCHSA</i>). The transcription of <i>NlCHSA</i> was suppressed in <i>N. lugens</i> infected by transgenic <i>M. anisopliae</i> strains. Consequently, the cumulative mortality of <i>N. lugens</i> caused by those transgenic strains was increased by 34.7–40.0% on day 6 after inoculation, and their median lethal times (LT<sub>50</sub>) were about 50% compared to the wild-type strain. Our results demonstrate that dsRNA expression in <i>M. anisopliae</i> caused RNA silencing in the host insect after infection and hence greatly enhanced the fungal virulence, highlighting a new strategy for augmentation of fungal virulence against sucking pests.