RNA-based biocontrol compounds:Current status and perspectives to reach the market

Facing current climate challenges and drastically reduced chemical options for plant protection, the exploitation of RNA interference (RNAi) as an agricultural biotechnology tool has unveiled possible new solutions to the global problems of agricultural losses caused by pests and other biotic and abiotic stresses. While the use of RNAi as a tool in agriculture is still limited to a few transgenic crops, and only adopted in restricted parts of the world, scientists and industry are already seeking innovations in leveraging and exploiting the potential of RNAi in the form of RNA-based biocontrol compounds for external applications. Here, we highlight the expanding research and development pipeline, commercial landscape and regulatory environment surrounding the pursuit of RNA-based biocontrol compounds with improved environmental profiles. The commitments of well-established agrochemical companies to invest in research endeavours and the role of start-up companies are crucial for the successful development of practical applications for these compounds. Additionally, the availability of standardized guidelines to tackle regulatory ambiguities surrounding RNA-based biocontrol compounds will help to facilitate the entire commercialization process. Finally, communication to create awareness and public acceptance will be key to the deployment of these compounds. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry

RNAi:What is its position in agriculture?

RNA interference (RNAi) is being developed and exploited to improve plants by modifying endogenous gene expression as well as to target pest and pathogen genes both within plants (i.e. host-induced gene silencing) and/or as topical applications (e.g. spray-induced gene silencing). RNAi is a natural mechanism which can be exploited to make a major contribution towards integrated pest management and sustainable agricultural strategies needed worldwide to secure current and future food production. RNAi plants are being assessed and regulated using existing regulatory frameworks for GMO. However, there is an urgent need to develop appropriate science-based risk assessment procedures for topical RNAi applications within existing plant protection products legislation

The effects of pre-harvest and post-harvest factors on the nutritional quality of strawberry fruits: A review

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Strategies for the genetic transformation, via organogenesis, of Prunus SPP to induce resistance to Plum Pox Virus (PPV) through post-transcriptional gene silencing

Le drupacee, in par-colare il pesco (Prunus persica), sono tra le specie arboree più importan- col-vate nel bacino del Mediterraneo, tu9avia infezioni virali determinate in par-colare da Plum Pox Virus (PPV), agente eziologico della Sharka, sono la causa di notevoli perdite agronomiche ed economiche. Al momento non ci sono mezzi di lo9a dire9a contro tale infezione ma solo mezzi di prevenzione non sempre efficaci e con problemi di sostenibilità ambientale e di cos- per gli agricoltori. Per questo mo-vo mol- programmi di studi genomici e di breeding tradizionale sono finalizza- a conoscere i meccanismi di resistenza. L’applicazione del breeding tradizionale al genere Prunus per introdurre questo cara9ere presenta molte limitazioni: difficoltà di reperire fon- gene-che di resistenza, tempi lunghi e introgressione di cara9eri agronomicamente nega-vi. L’applicazione delle tecniche di trasformazione gene-ca, u-li per studi funzionali, potrebbero essere usa- per introdurre geni di resistenza individua- in Prunus spp. o geni per il silenziamento genico post‐trascrizionale (PTGS) capaci di indurre resistenza a virus. L’applicazione in pesco delle tecniche di trasformazione gene-ca non è risultata finora efficiente, in par-colare nel caso di tessu- soma-ci. Un efficiente protocollo di rigenerazione in vitro (MezzeO et al., 2002), mediante organogenesi, è stato ada9ato efficientemente, per la rigenerazione e per la trasformazione gene-ca di una cul-var e portainnesto di pesco e di un portainnesto di albicocco. Sono sta- sviluppa- e u-lizza- due differen- metodi di trasformazione, quello mediato da Agrobacterium tumefaciens, applicato su ammassi di cellule meristema-che e quello biolis-co u-lizzato sia per la trasformazione di ammassi meristema-ci che di apici vegeta-vi. Gli esperimen- di trasformazione gene-ca sono sta- condoO u-lizzando costruO a “forcina” per l’induzione della resistenza a PPV tramite il meccanismo del PTGS

Analysis of fatigue damage accumulation in TiAl Intermetallics

In this work, a Ti-48Al-2Cr-2Nb alloy obtained with a additive manufacturing technique by electron beam melting (EBM) has been examined by conducting high cycle fatigue tests both with plain specimens and with specimens with artificially introduced defects with the objective of studying the growth behavior of small cracks. A consistent model for predicting the fatigue endurance strength of specimens with artificial defects is proposed, based on the Kitagawa diagram and taking into account of the presence of inherent microstructural features of the studied intermetallic alloy. Thus, the origin of fatigue failures due to intermetallic phases and orientation of lamellar colonies was investigated by means of micromechanical analysis through the use of high-resolution Digital Image Correlation (DIC). The local strain heterogeneities were measured out of the load frame by means of an optical microscope at high magnifications. The strain maps were then overlaid with the images of the microstructure and detailed analyses were performed to investigate the features of the microstructure where high local strain heterogeneities arise. High local residual plastic strains were measured inside lamellar colonies, which are detected as the precursor to fatigue crack initiation. The measure of the residual strains also provides further information on the role of the intermetallic phases on the fatigue behaviour of γ-TiAl alloys.</jats:p