Scientists have identified genes that determine how fall armyworms respond to insecticides, using a genome-wide CRISPR screening technique that could improve agricultural pest-control research.
Published in Nature Communications, the study examined fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), a destructive agricultural pest that threatens crops worldwide.
Researchers constructed a library of 90,759 CRISPR guide RNAs targeting 14,434 genes, allowing systematic investigation of the genetic mechanisms behind insecticide sensitivity.
Testing cells against increasing concentrations of the insecticide pyridalyl identified CYP333B4, a cytochrome P450 gene involved in activating the chemical.
Further experiments involving gene knockout and expression in fruit flies confirmed the importance of the CYP333B gene family.
The discovery complements CRISPR-based studies of genetic changes in insects, although the two techniques investigate different biological questions.
Understanding which genes activate insecticides could help researchers anticipate resistance and develop better pest-management strategies.
However, the study identifies biological mechanisms rather than delivering a new insecticide or proving improved field-level crop protection.