Double-stranded RNA constructs to control insect pests

1. A double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) comprising a sense region comprising a sequence with at least 99% sequence identity to at least 21 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 7 or SEQ ID NO: 8, and an antisense region comprising a second sequence complementary to said sense region.

2. A DNA comprising a promoter functional in a host cell, and a DNA encoding a dsRNA comprising a first and a second region, wherein said first region comprises a sequence with at least 99% sequence identity to a portion of at least 21 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 7, or SEQ ID NO: 8, and wherein said second region is complementary to said first region.

3. The DNA of claim 2 wherein said host cell is a bacterial cell, a yeast cell, or a plant cell.

4. A host cell comprising the DNA of claim 2 or 3 .

5. A chimeric gene comprising the following operably linked DNA:

(a) a plant-expressible promoter;

(b) a DNA region which when transcribed yields a double-stranded RNA molecule targeting a PBAN/pyokinin gene of a Heliothis insect, said RNA molecule comprising a first and second RNA region wherein:

(i) said first RNA region comprises a nucleotide sequence of at least 99% sequence identity to at least 21 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 7 or SEQ ID NO: 8;

(ii) said second RNA region comprises a nucleotide sequence complementary to said first RNA region; and

(iii) said first and second RNA region are capable of base-pairing to form a double-stranded RNA molecule; and

(c) optionally, a 3′ end region comprising transcription termination and polyadenylation signals functioning in plant cells.

6. The chimeric gene of claim 5 , wherein said first RNA region comprises at least 21 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 7.

7. The chimeric gene of claim 5 , wherein between said first and second RNA region, a spacer region containing a plant intron is present.

8. The chimeric gene of claim 5 , wherein said promoter is a constitutive promoter.

9. A plant cell, plant or seed comprising the chimeric gene of claim 5 or the double-stranded RNA molecule described in claim 5 .

10. A method to control a Heliothis , comprising applying to or in a material on which such insect feeds, a dsRNA targeted to a PBAN/pyrokinin gene of said insect, wherein said dsRNA comprises the dsRNA of claim 1 .

11. A method of controlling a Heliothis insect, comprising planting or growing plants expressing a dsRNA that targets a PBAN/pyrokinin gene of said insect, wherein said dsRNA comprises the dsRNA of claim 1 .

12. A method for controlling a Heliothis species insect, the method comprising: applying a solution comprising copies of a double-stranded ribonucleic acid construct that targets a PBAN/Pyrokinin gene in said insect to plants or material on which said insect feeds, and wherein said dsRNA comprises the dsRNA of claim 1 .

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said double-stranded ribonucleic acid targets the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7, or SEQ ID NO: 8.