Abstract

The tomato leaf miner (Tuta absoluta) is one of the top 20 plant pests worldwide. We cloned and identified the chromatin-remodelling ATPase genesISWIandBRMby RACE and bioinformatic analysis, respectively; used RT-qPCR to examine their expression patterns during different life cycle stages; and elucidated their roles in insect reproduction using double-stranded RNA injections. The full-length cDNA ofTaISWIwas 3428 bp and it encoded a 1025-aa polypeptide. The partial-length cDNA ofTaBRMwas 3457 bp and it encoded a 1030-aa polypeptide.TaISWIandTaBRMwere upregulated at the egg stage. Injection ofTaISWIorTaBRMdsRNA at the late pupa stage significantly inhibited adult ovary development and reduced fecundity, hatchability, and longevity in the adult females. To the best of our knowledge, the present study was the first to perform molecular characterisations of two chromatin-remodelling ATPase genes and clarify their roles inT. absolutafecundity. Chromatin-remodelling ATPases are potential RNAi targets for the control ofT. absolutaand other insect pests. The present study was also the first to demonstrate the feasibility of reproductive inhibitory RNAi as a putative approach for the suppression ofT. absolutaand other Lepidopteran insect populations.Keywords:bromo;fecundity;imitation SWItch;RNA interference;Tuta absoluta