Star Polycation Mediated dsRNA Improves the Efficiency of RNA Interference in <i>Phytoseiulus persimilis</i>

• Published in: Nanomaterials
• Main Authors: Zhenhui Wang, Mingxia Li, Ziyi Kong, Endong Wang, Bo Zhang, Jiale Lv, Xuenong Xu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2022-10-01
• Subjects: Phytoseiidae; nanomaterial; soaking; reproduction
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/12/21/3809

RNA interference (RNAi) is one of the most widely used techniques to study gene functions. There is still a lack of RNAi techniques that can be applied in Phytoseiidae conveniently and efficiently. Star Polycation is a new nanomaterial commonly used as a carrier of dsRNA in RNAi. Five genes of <i>P. persimilis</i> (<i>PpATPb</i>, <i>PpATPd</i>, <i>PpRpL11</i>, <i>PpRpS2</i>, and <i>Pptra-2</i>) were selected to verify whether SPc promotes the delivery of dsRNA into <i>P. persimilis</i> through soaking. When each of the five genes were interfered using SPc-mediated dsRNA, the total number of success offspring produced per female in six days decreased by ca. 92%, 92%, 91%, 96%, and 64%. When <i>PpATPb</i>, <i>PpATPd</i>, <i>PpRpL11</i>, or <i>PpRpS2</i> was interfered, both the fecundity and egg hatching rate decreased. In contrast, when <i>Pptra-2</i> was interfered, reduction in the reproductive capability was mainly the result of the decreased egg hatching rate. Correspondingly, when the target gene was interfered, <i>P. persimilis</i> expression of <i>PpRpL11</i> reduced by 63.95%, while that of the other four genes reduced by at least 80%. Our studies showed that nanomaterials, such as SPc, have the potential to be used in RNA interference of phytoseiid mites.