Developing genetic tools to control the Oriental fruit fly: Potential approaches and target genes

Abstract

The Oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis, is a pest of significant economic interest that damages horticulture and causes major economic losses worldwide. The main control measures are based on insecticides, which are being increasingly restricted due to the development of genetic resistance. Therefore, there is a crucial need for a novel, sustainable, and environmentally safe means of controlling this pest. Advances in genome editing, aided by the discovery of CRISPR-Cas9 tools and the development of gene drive systems, offer new alternatives for combating insect pests and vectors. Genetic suppression tools targeting key parameters could become powerful assets within the AW-IPM programme for controlling B. dorsalis. This literature review provides an overview of currently characterized genes that could be targeted for genetic suppression of B. dorsalis.