The immune response mechanism of Nilaparvata lugens against a combined infection of rice ragged stunt virus and Metarhizium anisopliae

BACKGROUND Previous studies of brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens, showed that carrying the plant pathogenic virus, rice ragged stunt virus (RRSV), enhanced the lethality of the entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae (YTTR). The underlying mechanism for this was not established but a serine protease cascade was hypothesized to be involved. RESULTS Two immune response genes, NlKPI and NlVenomase, were identified and shown to be involved. The synthesized double‐strand RNA (dsRNA) techniques used in this study to explore gene function revealed that treatment with dsRNA to silence either gene led to a higher BPH mortality from M. anisopliae infection than the dsRNA control treatment. NlKPI and NlVenomase play vital roles in BPH immunity to defend against alien pathogens. Both genes participate in the immune response process of BPH against co‐infection with RRSV and M. anisopliae YTTR by regulating the expression of antimicrobial peptides and phenoloxidase activity. CONCLUSION Our study provided new targets for BPH biocontrol and laid a solid foundation for further research on the interaction of virus‐insect‐EPF (entomopathogenic fungus). © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. Both NlKPI and NlVenomase participate in the process of rice ragged stunt virus‐mediated immune responses of Nilaparvata lugens to M. anisopliae by regulating antimicrobial peptides expression and phenoloxidase activity.