Paper Title
RNAi-based Silencing of Vitellogenin Gene for the Control of Red Palm Weevil, Rhynchophorusferrugineus (Olivier)

Abstract
Red palm weevil (RPW) Rhynchophorusferrugineus(Olivier) is considered as a very serious pest of palm trees worldwide. Although, several control measures have been taken, however, none of them seems successful against this invasive pest species. We, thus, focus on silencing of the reproduction control gene vitellogenin (Vg), a major yolk protein precursor critical for oogenesis, based on RNA interference (RNAi) strategy for its possible application to manage the pest population. For this, the adult RPW female fat body transcriptome was sequenced, which provided partial Vg gene transcript, (FPKM 5731.60). A complete RfVggene transcript of 1,787 residues was then sequenced using RCAE-PCR strategy and characterized. The phylogenetic analysis suggested that RPW Vg has closer ancestry to the coleopteran insects. RfVg-based RNAi revealed a high suppression of Vg gene expression; about 95% on day fifteen, 96.6 and 99% on day twenty and day twenty five of post injection periods, respectively, which resulted in dramatically failure of Vg protein expression, atrophied ovaries or no oogenesis and ultimately no hatchability of eggs. These results suggest that knockdown of Vg gene involved in RPW reproduction has a potential to be used as a promising target for RNAi-based management of RPW population. Keywords - Date Palm, Red Palm Weevil, RNAi, Reproduction, Vitellogenin