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10-Minute Presentation

Physiology, Biochemistry, and Toxicology

10-min: PBT, Life History Traits and Fitness 1

Knockdown of spermatogenesis genes as a potential tool to control Lygus hesperus

Tuesday, November 12, 2024
9:24 AM – 9:36 AM MST
Location: Phoenix Convention Center, 224 A, PCC
Oral Presentation
Lygus hesperus (Hemiptera: Miridae) is an important pest in western North America that annually causes millions of dollars in damage to crops such as cotton, strawberries and alfalfa. Although insecticide-based control is available for L. hesperus, it is less effective on adults, the stage which causes most of the damage. An alternative control strategy to maintain the pest population below the economic injury level is the sterile insect technique (SIT), achieved by introducing sexually competitive males that cannot produce offspring. To genetically achieve this goal, we evaluated a suite of genes implicated spermatogenesis in other species: fuzzy onions, zpg, no hitter, boule, and vasa. Experimental groups consisted of fifth instar males injected with double-stranded RNAs (dsRNA) targeting each of these genes, the exogenous fluorescent protein venus (dsRNA control), and non-injected males (negative control). After confirming target transcript knockdown, males at 7 days post-injection were mated overnight with virgin colony females, which were then provided an oviposition substrate for 72 h. The total number of eggs were counted, and the hatch percentage was calculated. Although no significant differences in hatching were observed for boule and vasa, zpg showed a significant decrease in hatching compared to controls. No egg hatch was observed for fuzzy onions and no hitter, suggesting they may be potential targets for gene-based pest management.