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Physiology, Biochemistry, and Toxicology

Member Symposium

New Information on RNAi Mechanisms and Technological Advances toward Practical Applications

Potential of RNAi as a tool for the control of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae

Sunday, November 13, 2022

9:50 AM – 10:05 AM PT

Location: Vancouver Convention Centre, Meeting Room 116/117

Presenting Author(s)

VG

Vojislava Grbic

Professor
University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario, Canada

Co-author(s)

ZC

Zoran Culo

University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario, Canada
JM

Joseane Moreira do Nascimento

University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario, Canada
NB

Nicolas Bensoussan

University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario, Canada
SD

Sameer Dixit

University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario, Canada
VZ

Vladimir Zhurov

University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario, Canada

Plant-feeding mites are among the most important global pests with numerous invasive species and great ability to develop pesticide resistance. This group includes Tetranychus urticae (two-spotted spider mite, TSSM) that is one of the major high-risk global pests and a re-emerging problem in the changing climate world-wide. TSSM feeds on over 1100 plant species, including 150 crops such as greenhouse and field, annual and perennial crops (e.g. tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, strawberries, maize, soy, cotton, apples, grapes, and citrus). The ability of environmental RNAi to efficiently down-regulate the expression of TSSM endogenous gene targets is now well-established, creating a basis for the development of RNAi-biopesticides. In our presentation we will discuss prospects of developing RNAi-biopesticides for the control of TSSM and related herbivorous mites.