In the present project, RNAi will be explored for the control of the Japanese beetle Popillia japonica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), an alien quarantine species highly polyphagous that cause severe damages to crops. The management of P. japonica in Italy is under the official control of the National Plant Protection Services and mainly based on applications of chemical insecticides. Therefore, innovative and sustainable alternative strategies are urgently needed. The use of microalgae and cyanobacteria for production and delivery of dsRNA offers the advantage of the direct foliar application of the microorganism avoiding the cost and material loss during dsRNA purification.
Project Leader: Luciana Galetto
IPSP personnel: Cristina Marzachì, Sabrina Palmano, Francesca De Luca, Marta Vallino, Elena Fanelli, Marika Rossi, Simona Abbà, Flavio Veratti, Elena Zocca, Concetta Mottura, Anna Romagnoli.
Start: 30/11/2023
End: 30/11/2025