Spray Induced Gene Silencing as a potential tool for sustainable control of potato late blight disease

Summary

The oomycete Phytophthora infestans causes late blight disease in potato leading to severe losses worldwide. Several crop protection methods including extensive use of fungicides currently exist. Recent studies have shown the efficacy of plant transgene-derived small RNAs in reducing fungal pathogen infection, a method termed as Host Induced Gene Silencing (SIGS). Continued prevalence of the pathogen, increasing risk of fungicide resistance and the present acceptance of genetically modified plants among the general public raise the need for alternative crop protection strategies. Through our study, we evaluate spraying of double stranded RNA as a sustainable, non-GMO alternative to curb Phytophthora infestans infection.