In Pennsylvania, AUM LifeTech, in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture, has developed a novel non-GMO RNA silencing approach for bacteria, insect and pathogen control with a focus on citrus trees and fruits. USDA researchers are currently using AUM’s next-generation RNA silencing FANA technology to combat the plant pathogenic bacteria Candidatus Liberibacter and citrus pests like citrus root weevil and Asian citrus psyllid. Preliminary results showed an increase in insect mortality and a reduction of bacteria within citrus trees.
This is the first evidence of successful delivery of FANA antisense oligonucleotides into plants through foliar sprays, root absorption and tree trunk injections; and these results suggest that the technology can be developed for insect and plant pathogen management for a wide spectrum of agricultural crops. The data will be presented at the upcoming International Plant & Animal Genome XXV conference, in San Diego, California in January of 2017.