Transforming crop protection: The role of RNAi in mitigating barley yellow dwarf virus and aphid infestation in cereal crops.

Abstract

RNA interference (RNAi) is emerging as a powerful technology to potentially protect wheat and barley crops from plant viruses such as Luteovirus pashordei, historicaly known as barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV), and insect/vector pest infestation. The induction of the RNAi mechanism by the spray on delivery of double-stranded (ds) RNAs that display homology to vital genes encoding virus movement protein, coat protein and other genes related to the virus-plant or virus-vector interaction can lead to limiting virus infection and replication as well as its transmission by aphid vectors. Introducing small interfering RNA (siRNA) into plant cells, targeting these genes, is initiated using various delivery methods, where the most promising is termed spray induced gene silencing (SIGS). This review overviews the significance of barley yellow dwarf viruses (BYDVs) and their aphid vectors. We examine RNAi technology with a focus on the potential for SIGS as a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution for combating barley yellows disease (BYD) in grain crops. The discussion also covers the applications approaches, advantages and disadvantages of this technology, its in-field implementation, the challenges SIGS RNAi application faces and potential for future directions.