Figure 5.

Proposed strategies for supplying dsRNAs to insects for RNAi-mediated pest control in the field. dsRNAs can be produced in biofactories and used, alone or in combination with nanomaterials (insert), with several application strategies. The use of plant and insect viruses, VLPs derived from them, as well as other insect pathogens or symbionts, taking advantage of their intrinsic characteristics, has been also studied. The development of nuclear and chloroplast transformants allows the continuous production of dsRNAs in genetically modified plants. BAPCs, branched amphipathic peptide capsules; CPPs, cell-penetrating peptides; DCL, Dicer-like proteins; GM, genetically modified; HA, hydroxyapatite; LDH, layered double hydroxide; RNApol, RNA polymerase; and VLPs, virus-like particles.