The CsmiR1579-CsKr-h1 module mediates rice stem borer development and reproduction: An effective target for transgenic insect-resistant rice

The rice stem borer (RSB, Chilo suppressalis) is a significant agricultural pest that mainly depends on chemical control. However, it has grown to varied degrees of pesticide resistance, which poses a severe threat to rice production and emphasizes the need for safer, more efficient alternative pest management strategies. Here, in vitro and in vivo experiments analyses reveal miR-1579 binds to the critical transcription factor Krüppel homologue 1 (Kr-h1) and negatively regulates its expression. Overexpression of miR-1579 in larvae with significantly lower levels of Kr-h1 was associated with a decline in larval growth and survival. Furthermore, in female pupae, miR-1579 overexpression led to abnormalities in ovarian development, suggesting that targeting miR-1579 could be a potential management strategy against C. suppressalis. Therefore, we generated transgenic rice expressing miR-1579 and screened three lines that had a single copy of highly abundant mature miR-1579 transcripts. Expectedly, fed with transgenic miR-1579 rice lines were significantly lower survival rates in larvae and high levels of resistance to damage caused by C. suppressalis infestation. These findings suggest that miRNA-mediated RNAi could provide an effective and species-specific strategy for C. suppressalis control.