RNA sprays to combat plant pathogenic fungi

Abstract

RNA interference (RNAi)-inducing sprays are a new non-toxic, non-transgenic, environmentally friendly strategy that has the immediate potential to revolutionise crop protection against insect-transmitted plant viruses, and facilitate a transition away from the use of chemical insecticides in agriculture. The approach, which involves spraying plants with virus-specific dsRNA, triggers and augments systemic RNAi, the plant’s natural defence mechanism against viruses. When applied in combination with stabilising nanoclay, in the formulation known as BioClay, dsRNA can provide virus protection to plants for more than 20 days, making a single spray a commercially feasible and lasting approach to protect crops from viruses. The aim of the present work is to develop BioClay-based RNA sprays to protect avocados, pineapples and Australian Myrtaceae species from pre- and post-harvest fungal diseases. This will lead to clean green safe produce from pre- to post-harvest, from field to supermarket trolley, safeguarding Queensland horticulture and ecosystems