A new genetically specific pesticide has been developed that targets the destructive Colorado potato beetle, an invasive species that causes significant agricultural damage across the Northern Hemisphere.
This beetle, originally from the Rocky Mountains, is responsible for over $500 million in damages each year, affecting not only potatoes but also crops like eggplant, tomatoed, and bell peppers.
GreenLight Biosciences, a biotechnology company, has created a pesticide called Calantha, which uses RNA interference (RNAi) technology. RNA interference is a biological process where RNA molecules inhibit gene expression by neutralizing targeted messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules.
In this case, Calantha targets a specific gene called PSMB5 within the Colorado potato beetle. The PSMB5 gene is crucial because it codes for a part of the cellular machinery responsible for removing damaged proteins. When this gene is inhibited or removed, the damaged or broke proteins accumulate, leading to the death of the beetle’s larvae within six days.
One of the significant challenges in agriculture is the development of pest resistance to traditional pesticides. The Colorado potato beetle is notorious for its resilience, having developed immunity to 50 different pesticide formulas. This phenomenon is similar to how bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics, forcing pharmaceutical and agricultural companies to continuously develop new strategies to combat various pests.
Andrei Alyokhin, an entomologist at the University of Maine, recounted a pivotal moment in 2001 when farmers in Maine discovered that a new class of pesticides, neonicotinoids, was no longer effective against the beetle.
“They were chewing through treated plants like it was nothing,” Alyokhin told Science Magazine’s Erik Stokstad, highlighting the urgency for more effective solutions.
RNA interference, as used in Calantha, represents a groundbreaking approach in pest control. It is considered safer by researchers and is designed to be innocuous to insects that are not closely related to the potato beetle, including essential pollinators like bees, as well as beneficial insects like lacewings and ladybugs.
Subba Reddy Palli, an entomologist at the University of Kentucky, expressed the precision of this technology: “You can… hit the insect you want to kill with precision. You cannot get anything better than this.”
Calantha’s production process is both efficient and cost-effective, with large batches being produced at around $1 per gram. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Calantha for use after extensive safety trials.
These trials included bioinformatics analyses to determine how similar the PSMB5 gene in the potato beetle is to that in order insect species. Of the four closely related beetle species tested, two were affected by the pesticide, both of which are agricultural pests.
The excitement within the pesticide research community about Calantha is palpable. Researchers are already working on strategies to prevent the Colorado potato beetle from developing resistance to this new technology.
In addition, GreenLight Biosciences has applied for FDA approval for a variant of Calantha that targets the varroa mite, a species that plagues honeybees and has shown resistance to almost all available pesticides.
However, the introduction of Calantha has also raised concerns among environmental groups. These groups are urging caution, emphasizing the importance of learning from past experiences with pesticides. They advocate for comprehensive trials that include a wide range of species that share habitats with potato farms to ensure that the new pesticide does not inadvertently harm non-target species.
Additionally, there is some apprehension regarding the formula that stabilizes the RNA within the spray, as this formula remains confidential. Given the history of environmental and health issues linked to chemicals like glyphosate, these groups are likely to demand rigorous scrutiny of Calantha’s potential impacts.
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