COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING LEPTINOTARSA

Disclosed herein are methods of controlling insect pests， in particular Leptinotarsa spp. which infest crop plants， and methods of providing plants resistant to such pests. Also disclosed are polynucleotides and recombinant DNA molecules and constructs useful in such methods， insecticidal compositions such as topical sprays containing insecticidal double-stranded RNAs， and solanaceous plants with improved resistance to infestation by Leptinotarsa spp. Further disclosed are methods of selecting target genes for RNAi-mediated silencing and control of Leptinotarsa spp.

本公开披露了侵害农作物的害虫防治方法，尤其是针对危害作物的马铃薯甲虫属（Leptinotarsa spp.）害虫的防治方法，以及培育对该类害虫具有抗性的植物的方法。本公开还披露了可用于上述方法的多核苷酸（polynucleotide）、重组DNA分子（recombinant DNA molecule）及基因构建体（construct）、含有杀虫双链核糖核酸（double-stranded RNA，dsRNA）的叶面喷施制剂等杀虫组合物，以及对马铃薯甲虫属害虫侵害具有更强抗性的茄科（solanaceous）植物。本公开进一步披露了用于RNA干扰（RNAi）介导的基因沉默与马铃薯甲虫属害虫防治的靶基因筛选方法。