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Page 63
Journal of Infectious Diseases & Therapy |ISSN: 2332-0877 | Volume 6
June 25-26, 2018 | Vancouver, Canada
3
rd
International Conference on
2
nd
International Conference on
Infection, Disease Control and Prevention
Microbial Pathogenesis & Infectious Diseases
&
Host induced gene silencing for pest/pathogen control
Amy L Klocko
University of Colorado, USA
C
ommercial crops, such as corn, wheat, and soy are subject to damage from a variety of biotic and abiotic sources, leading to
reduced yields and a loss of income. There are a variety of strategies available to mitigate damage from biotic sources, including
breeding for improved resistance, the application of pesticides, and crop rotation. Genetic engineering methods offer additional
methods. One such method, host induced gene silencing (HIGS) is an approach that shows promise for the control of a variety
of problematic crop-damaging organisms, ranging from nematodes and insects, to fungi and parasitic plants. In general, HIGS
utilizes RNA interference (RNAi) molecules produced by the plant, which then target key genes in pests/pathogens, ideally leading to
improved resistance of the plant and a reduction in damage. This approach has been demonstrated to be effective in both laboratory
and field settings, in a variety of host plants and targeting diverse pests/pathogens. Currently, no HIGS-protected crops are being used
in a commercial setting. As this area of research is still very much in development, the possible off-target and non-target effects need
to be assessed, as do the long-term stability and effectiveness. Practical implementation of HIGS to commercial crop production will
rely on extensive field-testing, as well as regulatory and marketplace acceptance of new varieties.
aklocko2@uccs.eduJ Infect Dis Ther 2018, Volume 6
DOI: 10.4172/2332-0877-C2-042