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Review Article Volume 12 Issue 5
A review on RNA interference (RNAi)-based treatment in corn plant to fight against pests
Nasit Akhil, Tawil Bill
Received: October 13, 2025 | Published: October 27, 2025
Citation: Akhil N, Bill T. A review on RNA interference (RNAi)-based treatment in corn plant to fight against pests. J Appl Biotechnol Bioeng. 2025;12(5):204-208. DOI: 10.15406/jabb.2025.12.00404
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is the process of a biological response to double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) that mediates resistance to both endogenous parasitic and exogenous pathogenic nucleic acids, and controls the expression of protein-coding genes. This natural mechanism for sequence specific gene silencing promises to revolutionize biology and have potential practical applications in functional genomics, therapeutic intervention, agriculture and other areas. RNA interference (RNAi) represents a revolutionary advancement in agricultural biotechnology, which has a precise strength in gene silencing for pest control in crops. This paper focuses on applications to target Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (Western corn rootworm-WCR)- “a billion-dollar bug”, using RNA interference (RNAi), a major pest responsible for substantial economic losses in maize crop production. This pest causes over $1 billion annually in the USA alone in crop damages and control expenses, while in all over the continent of North America the number has surpassed $2 billion. Yield losses from root pruning can reach up to 15% per damaged node, making the development of durable, precise control methods critical. This paper includes the approach to control a dangerous pest in corn plants through RNAi, which will further describe the mechanism of this process in insects, development and commercialization of the product. Moreover, the paper also includes a gene selection in insects, resistance mechanism and practical implication along with environmental safety and regulations and future market opportunities.
Keywords: RNA interference (RNAi), western corn rootworm (WCR), SmartStax PRO, Snf7 gene, dsRNA, sustainable agriculture, pest management biotechnology, genetically modified maize
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