Development of efficacious ribonucleic acid-based formulations for the control of gypsy moth

The European gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar dispar L.) (EGM) is a non-native insect pest the larvaeof which feed on leaves of over 300 broad-leaved species including forest shade ornamental andfruit trees as well as shrubs. It has defoliated over 98 million acres of U.S. forests from 1924 to2018 .NanoSUR's RNAi-based insecticide technology will contribute to the sustainable management offorests with minimal use of non-selective insecticides and their harmful impacts to non-targetorganisms. The successful execution of this grant will open an entirely new approach to combatinginfestation by EGM and prevent the spread of this pest.To achieve these goals we will show that we can accomplish the following objectives: 1) Synthesisof≥ 1 mg each and testing of 8 MdsRNA preparations as well as controls on an artificial diet assayusing a qPCR assay and 2) Synthesis of ≥ 5 mg and leaf assay testing of best preparation advancedfrom Objective 1. To accomplish this technical challenge we will build on prior research funded byNSF and work in collaboration with the Invasive Insect Biocontrol & Behavior Laboratory of theAgricultural Research Service in Beltsville Maryland through a CRADA with the USDA.