RNA-Spray-Mediated Silencing of and Genes Improve Barley Disease Resistance.

Over the last decade, several studies have revealed the enormous potential of RNA-silencing strategies as a potential alternative to conventional pesticides for plant protection. We have previously shown that targeted gene silencing mediated by an expression of non-coding inhibitory double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) can protect host plants against various diseases with unprecedented efficiency. In addition to the generation of RNA-silencing (RNAi) signals , plants can be protected from pathogens, and pests by spray-applied RNA-based biopesticides.