RNA-Based Biocontrols--A New Paradigm in Crop Protection

Modern agribusiness plays a vital role in safeguarding and improving the production,quality,and quantity of food,feed,fiber,and fuel.Growing concerns over the impact of chemical pesticides on health and the environment have stimulated the industry to search for alternative and greener solutions.Over the last years,the RNA interference(RNAi)process has been identified as a very promising new approach to complement the arsenal of foliar spray,soil,or seed treatments applied as chemical and biological pest control agents,and of plant-incorporated protectants(PIPs).RNA-based active ingredients(AIs)possess a unique mode of action and can be implemented via both genetic modification(GM)and biocontrol approaches.RNA-based AIs promise to deliver the selectivity and sustainability desired in future crop protection agents.This is due to their utilization of a natural process to exert control and their high level of selectivity,which leads to reduced risk for non-target organisms(NTOs).This review discusses the advantages and limitations of RNA-based solutions in crop protection and recent research progress toward RNA-based biocontrols against the Colorado potato beetle(CPB),corn rootworm(CRW),and soy stink bug(SSB).Many challenges still exist on the road to the implementation of a broad range of RNA-based products and their widespread use and application.Despite these challenges,it can be expected that RNA-based AIs will become valuable new tools complementing the current arsenal of crop-protection solutions.

Evaluation of spatial and temporal patterns of insect damage and aflatoxin level in the pre-harvest corn fields to improve management tactics

Spatial and temporal patterns of insect damage in relation to aflatoxin contamination in a corn field with plants of uniform genetic background are not well understood. After previous examination of spatial patterns of insect damage and aflatoxin in pre-harvest corn fields, we further examined both spatial and temporal patterns of cob- and kernel- feeding insect damage, and aflatoxin level with two samplings at pre-harvest in 2008 and 2009. The feeding damage by each of the ear/kernel-feeding insects （i.e., corn earworm/fall armyworm damage on the silk/cob, and discoloration of corn kernels by stink bugs） and maize weevil population were assessed at each grid point with five ears. Sampling data showed a field edge effect in both insect damage and aflatoxin contamination in both years. Maize weevils tended toward an aggregated distribution more frequently than either corn earworm or stink bug damage in both years. The frequency of detecting aggregated distribution for aflatoxin level was less than any of the insect damage assessments. Stink bug damage and maize weevil number were more closely associated with aflatoxin level than was corn earworm damage. In addition, the indices of spatial-temporal association （χ） demonstrated that the number of maize weevils was associated between the first （4 weeks pre-harvest） and second （1 week pre-harvest） samplings in both years on all fields. In contrast, corn earworm damage between the first and second samplings from the field on the Belflower Farm, and aflatoxin level and corn earworm damage from the field on the Lang Farm were dissociated in 2009.