Crop Protection with RNA Interference (RNAi) as a Promising Strategy for Effective Insect Management

Insect pests pose a major threat to global agricultural productivity. RNA interference (RNAi) technology presents a promising, environmentally friendly 210 alternative to chemical insecticides due to its high target specificity. RNAi has been used to develop bioinsecticides and plant-incorporated protectants (PIPs) by introducing insect-specific genes into plant genomes or plastids to express double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), which interferes with essential insect gene functions. Despite its potential, RNAi application in pest control faces challenges. A limited understanding of RNAi signal amplification and systemic spread in insect cells hampers the development of consistent and efficient gene-silencing strategies. Consequently, RNAi often achieves only partial suppression of target gene expression, and its efficacy remains largely empirical. This chapter explores the molecular basis of RNAi in insects and its integration into pest management. It highlights how improved knowledge of RNAi pathways can enhance gene function studies and facilitate precise pest control. Future directions include refining RNAi delivery methods, identifying optimal gene targets, and overcoming biological barriers in insects. A gene-silencing perspective is presented to help researchers design more effective RNAi-based tools for sustainable crop protection.