Oral Presentation International Plant Molecular Biology Conference 2024

Nanotechnology enabled spray induced gene silencing for crop protection (#454)

Hailing Jin 1 , Lulu Qiao 1 , Rachael Hamby 1 , Huaitong Wu 1 , Angela Chen 1 , Luca Capriotti 2 , Bruno Mezzetti 2 , Neena Mitter 3
  1. University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CALIFORNIA, United States
  2. Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
  3. Centre for Horticultural Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

Small RNAs (sRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs that mediate gene silencing in a sequence-specific manner. We discovered that many aggressive fungal pathogens can take up RNAs from the environment, which made it possible to use fungal gene-targeting double-stranded RNAs or small RNAs to silence fungal virulence-related genes and control fungal diseases. However, spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS) is limited by the unstable nature of RNA under environmental conditions. We recently discovered that plants utilize extracellular vesicles to protect and deliver RNAs into fungal pathogens to inhibit their infection. Inspired by the natural mechanism of cross-kingdom RNAi through extracellular vesicle trafficking and the use of liposomes in the COVID vaccines, we developed the use of artificial nanovesicles for RNA encapsulation and control against the fungal pathogen. In addition, inorganic nanoparticles, layered double hydroxide or clay particles, were also used as carriers to deliver biologically active dsRNA. BioClayTM enhances RNA stability on plants, prolonging its activity against pathogens. These nanotechnologies allow the fungal targeting RNAs to be effective in the environment for 3-4 weeks. This research enables the adoption of SIGS as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional fungicides.