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Rna Interference And Validation Of Reference Genes For Gene Expression Analyses Using Qpcr In Southern Pine Beetle, Dendroctonus Frontalis, Bethany R. Kyre, Thais B. Rodrigues, Lynne K. Rieske

Entomology Faculty Publications

RNA interference (RNAi) is a highly specific gene-silencing mechanism that can cause rapid insect mortality when essential genes are targeted. RNAi is being developed as a tool for integrated pest management of some crop pests. Here we focus on an aggressive forest pest that kills extensive tracts of pine forests, the southern pine beetle (SPB), Dendroctonus frontalis. We sought to identify reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and validate RNAi responses in SPB by mortality and gene silencing analysis. Using an adult beetle feeding bioassay for oral ingestion of dsRNA, we measured the expression and demonstrated knockdown of …