Figure 4. Ingestion of ACP-specific dsRNAs induced insect mortality and gene suppression.

(A) Adult ACP were fed on citrus flushes treated with dsRNAs targeting five ACP genes and controls treatments (dsGFP and water). ACP mortality was monitored over a 15 days period. The asterisk indicates the first day where cumulative mortality was observed on flushes treated with dsAK or dsSOD, which showed statistical differences (P < 0.05) compared to the controls (dsGFP and water). (B) Adult ACP showed reduced levels of AK (Arginine kinase) and SOD (Superoxide Dismutase) mRNAs 5 days post feeding (dpf) on a flush treated with dsAK or dsSOD. Feeding on flushes treated with dsGFP or water did not alter target gene expression in psyllids. Bars represent the standard deviation. Different letters indicate statistically significant differences (P < 0.05).