Exploiting RNA Interference Mechanism in Plants for Disease Resistance

Abstract

RNA interference (RNAi) is a novel technique in the field of functional genomics. It has an immense potential for managing plant diseases by down regulating expression of phytopathogens’ genes (invader’s gene) and other negative regulators of resistance pathways. This technique has become a breakthrough in the field of managing plant diseases rather than implementing biological and chemical control measures. RNAi mechanism involves the silencing of specific genes responsible for infection in the host plant, in a homology-dependent manner, before their translation. Incorporation of RNAi over the time has become one of the most promising technology, which reduces the risks incurred in the production of transgenic plants. The idea of gene silencing has been successful under laboratory conditions, and it is now gaining importance for field applications as well. However, problem presently to solve include delivering RNAi gene silencing in the field, in a convenient way for managing fungal, bacterial and viral plant diseases, on host-pathogen related targeted sites. This chapter will give an insight on the strategies of delivering RNAi mediated gene silencing and managing plant diseases in a most practical way for the farmers.