Validating the Potential of Double-Stranded RNA Targeting Colorado Potato Beetle Gene in Laboratory and Field Trials.

Colorado potato beetle (CPB) is an agricultural pest of solanaceous crops, notorious for its rapid resistance development to chemical pesticides. Foliar spraying of dsRNA formulations is a promising innovative technology providing highly specific and environmentally acceptable option for CPB management. We designed dsRNA to silence CPB gene (dsMESH) and performed laboratory feeding trials to assess impacts on beetle survival and development.