The present disclosure relates to the field of plant molecular biology, more particularly to regulation of gene expression in plants.

This disclosure concerns compositions and methods for novel RNA inhibition molecules (e.g., small/short hairpin RNA (shRNA) molecules), polynucleotides encoding such molecules, use of such novel RNA inhibition molecules to inhibit a target gene by suppressing the expression of the mRNA of the target gene, and for application such as the of control insect pests, and transgenic plants that produce, and are protected, by these novel RNA inhibition molecules are described.

An isolated polynucleotide includes: (a) a polynucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1; or (b) a polynucleotide sequence having at least 15, 17, 19 or 21 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the growth of a pest of the order Coleoptera is inhibited when the pest of the order Coleoptera ingests double-stranded RNA comprising at least one strand that is complementary to the described polynucleotide sequence; or (c) any polynucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 to SEQ ID NO: 6; or (d) a polynucleotide sequence which hybridizes under stringent conditions with the polynucleotide sequence as defined in (a), (b) or (c). A plurality of target sequences are used for controlling a target gene c4506 of Monolepta hieroglyphica, which is a pest of the order Coleoptera.

An isolated polynucleotide includes: (a) a polynucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1; or (b) a polynucleotide sequence comprising at least 15 or 17 or 19 or 21 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the ingestion, by Coleoptera insect pests, of a double-stranded RNA comprising at least one strand complementary to the polynucleotide sequence inhibits the growth of the Coleoptera insect pests; or (c) any one of the polynucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 to SEQ ID NO: 6; or (d) a polynucleotide sequence hybridized with the polynucleotide sequence defined in (a), (b) or (c) mentioned above under stringent conditions. Multiple target sequences of the target gene c46312 control the Coleoptera insect pest Monolepta hieroglyphica.

Compositions and methods for controlling plant pests are disclosed. In particular, novel insecticidal proteins having toxicity against Coleopteran and/or Lepidopteran insect pests are provided. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the novel insecticidal proteins are also provided. Methods of making the insecticidal proteins and methods of using the insecticidal proteins and nucleic acids encoding the insecticidal proteins of the invention, for example in transgenic plants to confer protection from insect damage, are also disclosed.

The present disclosure relates to methods of producing insect pheromone precursors and genetically modified plants capable of producing insect pheromone precursors. The genetically modified plants include a heterologous gene encoding at least one silencing suppressor protein and at least one enzyme selected from the group consisting of a fatty acyl desaturase, a fatty acyl elongase, a fatty acyl reductase, and an acyl-CoA oxidase.

Pesticidal proteins are provided that combine two or more modes of action into a single molecule. These pesticidal proteins therefor exhibit greater efficacy and/or durability of resistance, for the purposes of pest control, and can be utilized for pest control by provision in the diet of a pest organism, or by topical application to crop plants and/or pests. Methods and compositions for producing and using such proteins are also provided.

Compositions and methods for controlling pests are provided. The methods involve transforming organisms with a nucleic acid sequence encoding an insecticidal protein. In particular, the nucleic acid sequences are useful for preparing plants and microorganisms that possess insecticidal activity. Thus, transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, plant tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions are insecticidal nucleic acids and proteins of bacterial species. The sequences find use in the construction of expression vectors for subsequent transformation into organisms of interest including plants, as probes for the isolation of other homologous (or partially homologous) genes. The pesticidal proteins find use in controlling, inhibiting growth or killing Lepidopteran, Coleopteran, Dipteran, fungal, Hemipteran and nematode pest populations and for producing compositions with insecticidal activity.

Novel insecticidal proteins that are toxic to lepidopteran pests are disclosed. The polynucleotides encoding the insecticidal proteins can be used to transform prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms to express the insecticidal proteins. The recombinant organisms or compositions containing the recombinant organisms or the insecticidal proteins alone or in combination with other pest control agents and an appropriate agricultural carrier can be used to control lepidopteran pests in various environments.

This disclosure concerns nucleic acid molecules and methods of use thereof for control of insect pests through RNA interference-mediated inhibition of target coding and transcribed non-coding sequences in insect pests, including coleopteran pests. The disclosure also concerns methods for making transgenic plants that express nucleic acid molecules useful for the control of insect pests, and the plant cells and plants obtained thereby.