Biotechnology Bulletin ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (9): 1-21.doi: 10.13560/j.cnki.biotech.bull.1985.2025-0645

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Advances in RNA Interference Technology for Plant Functional Genomics and Crop Improvement

HUANG Wen-jing(), REN Si-chao, LIN Li, WANG You-ping, WU Jian()   

  1. College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225000
  • Received:2025-06-19 Online:2025-09-26 Published:2025-09-24
  • Contact: WU Jian E-mail:222101206@stu.yzu.edu.cn;wu_jian@yzu.edu.cn

Abstract:

RNA interference (RNAi) is a sequence-specific gene silencing mechanism mediated by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and conserved in eukaryotes. Its molecular mechanism primarily involves the processing of dsRNA, the generation of small interfering RNA (siRNA) or microRNA (miRNA), and the sequence-specific degradation or translational inhibition of target mRNA mediated by the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). Based on this mechanism, RNAi technology has become a powerful tool for plant functional genomics research and demonstrates immense potential in the genetic improvement of crops for resistance to diseases and pests, as well as in green and sustainable pest control. This review systematically summarizes the discovery history and molecular mechanism of RNAi and focuses on its three core applications: Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) utilizes engineered viral vectors to achieve transient silencing of host genes, providing an efficient approach for plant gene functional studies. Host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) aims to breed transgenic crops with durable resistance to fungi, viruses, and pests by expressing RNAi molecules within the plant to target and silence key genes in pathogens or pests. Spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS), as a non-transgenic strategy, involves spraying designed target-specific dsRNA. Upon uptake by the target pathogen or pest, this dsRNA inhibits the expressions of their key genes, thereby interfering with their infection/infestation process, offering a novel, environmentally friendly strategy for disease and pest control. In the future, further advancements in RNAi technology are expected to benefit from the deep integration of synthetic biology, artificial intelligence, and nano-delivery systems to optimize target design, enhance silencing efficiency, and reduce off-target risks. With breakthroughs in key technologies and the overcoming of application bottlenecks, RNAi holds exceptionally broad application prospects for advancing plant science research and achieving sustainable agriculture.

Key words: RNA interference, virus-induced gene silencing, host-induced gene silencing, spray-induced gene silencing, cross-kingdom RNAi, gene silencing, double-stranded RNA, disease and pest control