Functional characterization of five developmental signaling network genes in the white‐backed planthopper: Potential application for pest management

BACKGROUND The white‐backed planthopper (WBPH, Sogatella furcifera) is a major rice pest that exhibits condition dependent wing dimorphisms – a macropterous (long wing) form and a brachypterous (short wing) form. Although, the gene cascade that regulates wing development and dimorphic differentiation has been largely defined, the utility of these genes as targets for pest control has yet to be fully explored. RESULTS Five genes typically associated with the developmental signaling network, armadillo (arm), apterous A (apA), scalloped (sd), dachs (d), and yorkie (yki) were identified from the WBPH genome and their roles in wing development assessed following RNA interference (RNAi)‐mediated knockdown. At 5 days‐post injection, transcript levels for all five targets were substantially decreased compared with the dsGFP control group. Among the treatment groups, those injected with dsSfarm had the most pronounced effects on transcript reduction, mortality (95 ± 3%), and incidence (45 ± 3%) of wing deformities, whereas those injected with dsSfyki had the lowest incidence (6.7 ± 4%). To assess the utility of topical RNAi for Sfarm, we used a spray‐based approach that complexed a large‐scale, bacteria‐based double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA) expression pipeline with star polycation (SPc) nanoparticles. Rice seedlings infested with third and fourth instar nymphs were sprayed with SPc–dsRNA formulations and RNAi phenotypic effects were assessed over time. At 2 days post‐spray, Sfarm transcript levels decreased by 86 ± 9.5% compared with dsGFP groups, and the subsequent incidences of mortality and wing defects were elevated in the treatment group. CONCLUSIONS This study characterized five genes in the WBPH developmental signaling cascade, assessed their impact on survival and wing development via RNAi, and developed a nanoparticle‐dsRNA spray approach for potential field control of WBPH. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. Large‐scale double‐stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) were obtained by an Escherichia coli expression system. A nanocarrier‐dsRNA spray delivery system targeting a component of the white‐backed planthopper developmental signaling network induced high mortality and abnormal wing development.