Helicoverpa armigera causes huge crop losses due to its polyphagous nature. The present study demonstrates the use of artificial microRNA (amiRNA) mediated gene silencing approach to generate insect resistant tomato plants. Ecdysone receptor (HaEcR) gene of the target pest, H. armigera, which is involved in the regulation of all developmental stages of the insect life cycle was silenced by sequence-specific amiRNA (amiRNA-HaEcR). Continuous feeding on detached tomato leaves expressing the amiRNA-319a-HaEcR resulted in reduced target gene transcripts and affected the overall growth and survival of H. armigera. Not only the target gene was down-regulated but, the feeding also affected the expression of down-stream genes involved in the ecdysone signaling pathway. The resistant trait was also observed in T₁ generation of tomato transgenic lines. These results further established the role of EcR as a master regulator in insect development and effectiveness of amiRNA technology for efficient control of H. armigera.

Helicoverpa armigera由于其多食性而造成巨大的作物损失。本研究证明了使用人工 microRNA (amiRNA) 介导的基因沉默方法来产生抗虫番茄植物。靶害虫棉铃虫的蜕皮激素受体 ( HaEcR ) 基因参与调控昆虫生命周期的所有发育阶段，被序列特异性 amiRNA (amiRNA- HaEcR ) 沉默。连续喂食表达 amiRNA-319a-HaEcR 的分离番茄叶导致靶基因转录物减少并影响棉铃虫的整体生长和存活. 不仅靶基因被下调，而且喂养也影响了参与蜕皮激素信号通路的下游基因的表达。_{在T 1}代番茄转基因株系中也观察到了抗性性状。这些结果进一步确立了EcR作为昆虫发育主要调节因子的作用，以及 amiRNA 技术在有效控制棉铃虫方面的有效性。