From Resistance Breakers to RNAi: Targeting Spodoptera frugiperda Detoxification Genes for Sustainable Management
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The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda , is an invasive and polyphagous pest that has become a major threat to tropical crops due to its rapid dissemination, broad host range, and increasing insecticide resistance. This research approaches the molecular basis of resistance by combining comparative transcriptomics with RNA interference (RNAi) to discover and functionally validate critical detoxification genes. We identified significant up-regulation of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYP321A1 and CYP9A4), glutathione S-transferases (GSTE6 and GSTE2) and carboxylesterase (CCE2) in resistant populations. Suppression of these genes through RNAi resulted in greater susceptibility to insecticides and lower larval survival. Delivery of the chitosan nanoparticle using dsRNA also improved stability and knockdown in a field context. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these resistance genes are well conserved among the most important lepidopteran pests, indicating potential for a broader efficacy of RNAi as a pest management strategy. It may establish RNAi- and CRISPR-based molecular biocontrol systems in tropical IPMs, with significant benefits for sustainable agriculture and biodiversity conservation.
