Ras opposite (ROP) and related nucleic acid molecules that confer resistance to coleopteran and/or hemipteran pests

Abstract

This disclosure concerns nucleic acid molecules and methods of use thereof for control of coleopteran and/or hemipteran pests through RNA interference-mediated inhibition of target coding and transcribed non-coding sequences in coleopteran and/or hemipteran pests. The disclosure also concerns methods for making that express nucleic acid molecules useful for the control of coleopteran and/or hemipteran pests, and the plant cells and plants obtained thereby.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of controlling insect pests, the method comprising expressing a nucleic acid encoding an RNA comprising at least 15 contiguous nucleotides having, over its full length, at least 80% identity to a DNA sequence encoding at least a portion of Ras opposite (ROP) in a plant. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the insect pest is a coleopteran or a hemipteran. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the insect pest is selected from the group consisting of  Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, Diabrotica barberi, Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi, Diabrotica virgifera zeae, Diabrotica balteata, Diabrotica undecimpunctata tenella, Diabrotica undecimpunctata undecimpunctata, Euschistus heros, Nezara viridula, Piezodorus guildinii, Halyomorpha halys, Acrosternum hilare, Euschistus serous , and  Meligethes aeneus.    
     
     
         4 . A method of controlling insect pests, the method comprising feeding to an insect pest a food source for an insect pest, the food source comprising an RNA at least 15 contiguous nucleotides having, over its full length, at least 80% identity to a DNA sequence encoding at least a portion of Ras opposite (ROP) in a plant.