Argentina’s INTA develops RNA-based technique Silent to control grapevine moth

A team of scientists from Argentina’s National Agricultural Technology Institute (INTA) and the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (Conicet) has developed a new biotechnological method to control the European grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana), one of the most destructive pests affecting vineyards throughout Argentina. The technology—called Silent—is based upon RNA interference (RNAi), a genetic silencing mechanism that inhibits key physiological functions in insects. The approach represents a first-of-its-kind strategy in Argentine viticulture and could serve as an environmentally safe and locally produced alternative to imported pheromones and chemical insecticides. Targeting essential genes through RNA interference Researchers working at INTA’s Cuyo Innovation Hub (Nodo de Innovación Cuyo, NiC) in Mendoza selected genes essential to the life cycle of Lobesia botrana and designed synthetic double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules to suppress them. ″We chose genes that are essential to the moth’s survival and designed dsRNA molecules to silence their expression, producing an insecticidal effect,″ according to Lucas Resa Jurin, a Conicet researcher based at INTA’s Plant Virology Laboratory in Luján de Cuyo. Initial laboratory trials conducted between February and April reported mortality rates between 50% and 80% in larvae, depending upon the target gene. These tests demonstrated that RNA-based silencing can effectively disrupt critical biological processes in the pest’s early stages. Moving from the lab to the vineyard The next stage for Silent involves scaling the technology from laboratory proof-of-concept to field conditions. ″We are testing the best vehicle for delivering the RNA molecules to larvae in vineyards,″ noted Analía Díaz Bruno, director of INTA’s Cuyo Innovation Hub. ″One of the options under study is a sprayable formulation that producers could apply during key stages of the pest’s cycle.″ If successful, the technology would offer several advantages over current control methods, which rely primarily on chemical insecticides and imported pheromone traps—both expensive and environmentally taxing. By contrast, the proposed RNAi approach could be produced locally, at lower cost, and with minimal ecological impact, since the dsRNA molecules are biodegradable and designed to act specifically on target insect genes. Towards commercialization and industry collaboration The INTA-Conicet team plans to partner with agrochemical or biotechnology companies to move toward industrial-scale production and potential commercialization. ″As a public research institution, INTA cannot manufacture at scale,″ Díaz Bruno noted. ″Our goal is to license the technology so that this biocontrol solution can reach producers as a practical, effective, and nationally developed alternative.″ A step forward for sustainable viticulture Lobesia botrana—the grapevine moth—has been a major concern for Argentina’s wine industry, particularly in western provinces such as Mendoza and San Juan, where the pest damages grape clusters and helps to spread fungal infections that degrade fruit quality. The Silent project integrates cutting-edge molecular biology with applied agricultural research, positioning Argentina at the forefront of green biotechnology in pest management. The method’s specificity and environmental safety could open pathways for broader applications of RNA interference in other important crops and pests. (Editing by Leonardo Gottems, reporter for AgroPages) For collaboration opportunities and corporate branding initiatives with AgroPages, please contact Christina Xie at christina@agropages.com