Compositions and methods to control insect pests
The present invention relates generally to methods of molecular biology and gene silencing to control pests.
1. A silencing element comprising at least one double-stranded RNA region, at least one strand of which comprises a polynucleotide that is complementary to:
(a) the nucleotide sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 135;
(b) the nucleotide sequence comprising at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 135; or
(c) the nucleotide sequence comprising at least 25 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 135;
wherein the silencing element has sterilization activity against an insect plant pest.
2. The silencing element of claim 1 , wherein the insect plant pest is a Coleoptera plant pest.
3. The silencing element of claim 2 , wherein the Coleoptera plant pest is a Diabrotica plant pest.
4. The silencing element of claim 3 , wherein the Diabrotica plant pest comprises D. virgifera virgifera, D. virgifera zeae, D. speciosa, D. barberi, D. virgifera zeae , or D. undecimpunctata howardi.
5. The silencing element of claim 1 , wherein the silencing element comprises a hairpin loop.
6. A composition comprising the silencing element of claim 1 .
7. The composition of claim 6 , further comprising an agriculturally acceptable carrier.
8. The composition of claim 6 , further comprising a herbicide compound, an insecticide, a fungicide, a nematocide, an agriculturally-acceptable carrier, and/or a bacteria, or combinations thereof.
9. The composition of claim 6 , wherein the composition is in liquid form, solid form, or gel form.
10. The composition of claim 9 , wherein the solid form is a pellet, a powder, an aggregate, or a molded article.
11. A plant cell having stably incorporated into its genome a heterologous polynucleotide encoding a silencing element, wherein the polynucleotide comprises:
a. the nucleotide sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 135;
b. the nucleotide sequence comprising at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 135; or
c. the nucleotide sequence comprising at least 25 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 135;
wherein the silencing element decreases the fertility of an insect plant pest.
12. The plant cell of claim 11 , wherein the insect plant pest is a Coleoptera plant pest.
13. The plant cell of claim 12 , wherein the Coleoptera plant pest is a Diabrotica plant pest.
14. The plant cell of claim 13 , wherein the Diabrotica plant pest comprises D. virgifera virgifera, D. virgifera zeae, D. speciosa, D. barberi, D. virgifera zeae , or D. undecimpunctata howardi.
15. The plant cell of claim 11 , wherein the plant cell further comprises an expression cassette, wherein the expression cassette comprises the heterologous polynucleotide encoding a silencing element.
16. The plant cell of claim 11 , wherein the silencing element comprises a double stranded RNA.
17. The plant cell of claim 11 , wherein the silencing element compises a hairpin RNA.
18. The plant cell of claim 11 , wherein the polynucleotide is operably linked to a heterologous promoter.
19. The plant cell of claim 11 , wherein the plant cell is from a monocot.
20. The plant cell of claim 19 , wherein the monocot is maize, barley, millet, wheat or rice.
21. The plant cell of claim 11 , wherein the plant cell is from a dicot.
22. The plant cell of claim 21 , wherein the dicot is kale, cauliflower, broccoli, mustard plant, cabbage, pea, clover, alfalfa, broad bean, tomato, cassava, soybean, canola, alfalfa, sunflower, safflower, tobacco, Arabidopsis , or cotton.
23. A plant or plant part comprising the plant cell of claim 11 .
24. A transgenic seed from the plant of claim 23 .
25. A method for controlling a plant insect pest comprising feeding to a plant insect pest a composition comprising a silencing element, wherein the silencing element controls the plant pest, wherein the silencing element comprises a sequence complementary to:
a. the nucleotide sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 135;
b. the nucleotide sequence comprising at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 135; or
the nucleotide sequence comprising at least 25 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 135; wherein the silencing element has insect sterilization activity against the plant pest.
26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the composition comprises a plant or plant part having stably incorporated into its genome a polynucleotide encoding the silencing element.
27. The method of claim 25 , wherein the silencing element comprises a double stranded RNA.
28. The method of claim 25 , wherein the silencing element comprises a hairpin RNA.
29. The method of claim 26 , wherein the polynucleotide encoding silencing element is operably linked to a heterologous promoter.
30. The method of claim 25 , wherein the plant is a monocot.
31. The method of claim 30 , wherein the monocot is maize, barley, millet, wheat or rice.
32. The method of claim 25 , wherein the plant is a dicot.
33. The method of claim 32 , wherein the dicot is kale, cauliflower, broccoli, mustard plant, cabbage, pea, clover, alfalfa, broad bean, tomato, cassava, soybean, canola, alfalfa, sunflower, safflower, tobacco, Arabidopsis , or cotton.