Abstract

Modern plant breeding is still a time-consuming and costly process, even with the most advanced technologies such as gene editing. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop alternative means for plant trait manipulation and plant protection. RNA interference (RNAi) is a conserved cellular mechanism mediated by naturally occurring double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and small RNAs (sRNAs) that can target mRNAs for destruction or transcript reduction. Here, we review the potential of technology based on RNAi, called spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS), as an alternative or adjunct to breeding for manipulation of endogenous gene expression in plants or pathogen control. SIGS based on exogenous application of RNA molecules in plants may be especially useful in reducing pest or pathogen impacts, thereby ameliorating biotic stresses and increasing the agronomic performance of crops.

Keywords

RNA interference; small RNAs; SIGS; dsRNAs

Published in

Crop breeding and applied biotechnology
2021, Volume: 21, article number: e387921S11

SLU Authors

• Vetukuri, Ramesh

  • Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Dubey, Mukesh

  • Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Kalyandurg, Pruthvi Balachandra

  • Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Carlsson, Anders

  • Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Ortiz Rios, Rodomiro Octavio

  • Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Associated SLU-program

SLU Plant Protection Network


UKÄ Subject classification

Genetics and Breeding


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1984-70332021v21Sa24

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/112628