Compositions and methods to control insect pests

Abstract

Methods and compositions are provided which employ a silencing element that, when ingested by a pest, such as a Coleopteran plant pest or a Diabrotica plant pest, decrease the expression of a target sequence in the pest. In specific embodiments, the decrease in expression of the target sequence controls the pest and thereby the methods and compositions are capable of limiting damage to a plant. The present invention provides various target polynucleotides set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: disclosed herein, (but not including the forward and reverse primers.) or active variants and fragments thereof, or complements thereof, wherein a decrease in expression of one or more of the sequences in the target pest controls the pest (i.e., has insecticidal activity). Further provided are silencing elements which when ingested by the pest decrease the level of the target polypeptide and thereby control the pest. In specific embodiments, the pest is D. virgifera virgifera, D. barberi, D. virgifera zeae, D. speciosa, D. speciosa , or D. undecimpunctata howardi . Plants, plant parts, bacteria and other host cells comprising the silencing elements or an active variant or fragment thereof of the invention are also provided.

1 . An isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence comprising:
 (a) the nucleotide sequence comprising any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 5, 8, 9, 12, 13, 16, 17, 20, 21, 24, 25, 28, 29, 32, 33, 36, 37, 40, 41, 44, 45, 48, 49, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 60, 61, 64, 65, 68, 69, 72, 73, 76, 77, 80, 81, 84, 85, 88, 89, 92, 93, 96, 97, 100, 101, 104, 105, 108, 109, 112, 113, 116, 117, 120, 121, 124, 125, 128, 129, 132, 133, 136, 137, 140, 141, 144, 145, 148, 149, 152, 153, 156, 157, 160, 161, 164, 165, 168, 169, 172, 173, 176, 177, 180, 181, 184, 185, 188, 189, 192, 193, 196, 197, 200, 201, 204, 205, 208, 209, 212, 213, 216, 217, 220, 221, 224, 225, 228, 229, 232, 233, 236, 237, 240, 241, 244, 245, 248, 249, 252, 253, 256, 257, 260, 261, 264, 265, 268, 269, 272, 273, 276, 277, 280, 281, 284, 285, 288, 289, 292, 293, 296, 297, 300, 301, 304, 305, 308, 309, 312, 313, 316, 317, 320, 321, 324, 325, 328, 329, 332, 333, 336, 337, 340, 341, 344, 345, 348, 349, 352, 353, 356, 357, 360, 361, 364, 365, 368, 369, 372, 373, 376, 377, 380, 381, 384, 385, 388, 389, 392, 393, 396, 397, 400, 401, 404, 405, 408, 409, 412, 413, 416, 417, 420, 421, 424, 425, 428, 429, 432, 433, 436, 437, 440, 441, 444, 445, 448, 449, 452, 453, 456, 457, 460, 461, 464, 465, 468, 469, 472, 473, 476, 477, 480, 481, 484, 485, 488, 489, 492, 493, 496, 497, 500, 501, 504, 505, 508, 509, 512, 513, 516, 517, 520, 521, 524, 525, 528, 529, 532, 533, 536, 537, 540, 541, 544, 545, 548, 549, 552, 553, 556, 557, 560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 566, 567, 568, 570, 571, 572, 573, 574, 575, 576, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 583, 584, 585, 586, 587, 588, 589, 590, 591, 592, 593, 594, 595, 596, 597, 598, 599, 600, 601, 602, 603, 604, 605, 606, 607, 608, 609, 610, 611, 612, 613, 614, 615, 616, 617, 618, 619, 620, 621, 622, 623, 624, 625, 626, 627, 628, 629, 630, 631, 632, 633, 634, 635, 636, 637, 638, 639, 640, 641, 642, 643, 644, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 650, 651, 652, 653, 654, 655, 656, 657, 658, 659, 660, 661, 662, 663, 664, 665, 666, 667, 668, 669, 670, 671, 672, 673, 674, 675, 676, 677, 678, 679, 680, 681, 682, 683, 684, 685, 686, 687, 688, 689, 690, 691, 692, 693, 694, 695, 696, 697, 700, 701, 702, 703, 706, 707, 708, 709, 712, 713, 714, 715, 718, 719, 720, 721, or active variants and fragments thereof, and complements thereof, wherein said polynucleotide encodes a silencing element having insecticidal activity against a Coleoptera plant pest.   (b) the nucleotide sequence comprising at least 9000 sequence identity to any one of nucleotides SEQ ID NOS: 1, 5, 8, 9, 12, 13, 16, 17, 20, 21, 24, 25, 28, 29, 32, 33, 36, 37, 40, 41, 44, 45, 48, 49, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 60, 61, 64, 65, 68, 69, 72, 73, 76, 77, 80, 81, 84, 85, 88, 89, 92, 93, 96, 97, 100, 101, 104, 105, 108, 109, 112, 113, 116, 117, 120, 121, 124, 125, 128, 129, 132, 133, 136, 137, 140, 141, 144, 145, 148, 149, 152, 153, 156, 157, 160, 161, 164, 165, 168, 169, 172, 173, 176, 177, 180, 181, 184, 185, 188, 189, 192, 193, 196, 197, 200, 201, 204, 205, 208, 209, 212, 213, 216, 217, 220, 221, 224, 225, 228, 229, 232, 233, 236, 237, 240, 241, 244, 245, 248, 249, 252, 253, 256, 257, 260, 261, 264, 265, 268, 269, 272, 273, 276, 277, 280, 281, 284, 285, 288, 289, 292, 293, 296, 297, 300, 301, 304, 305, 308, 309, 312, 313, 316, 317, 320, 321, 324, 325, 328, 329, 332, 333, 336, 337, 340, 341, 344, 345, 348, 349, 352, 353, 356, 357, 360, 361, 364, 365, 368, 369, 372, 373, 376, 377, 380, 381, 384, 385, 388, 389, 392, 393, 396, 397, 400, 401, 404, 405, 408, 409, 412, 413, 416, 417, 420, 421, 424, 425, 428, 429, 432, 433, 436, 437, 440, 441, 444, 445, 448, 449, 452, 453, 456, 457, 460, 461, 464, 465, 468, 469, 472, 473, 476, 477, 480, 481, 484, 485, 488, 489, 492, 493, 496, 497, 500, 501, 504, 505, 508, 509, 512, 513, 516, 517, 520, 521, 524, 525, 528, 529, 532, 533, 536, 537, 540, 541, 544, 545, 548, 549, 552, 553, 556, 557, 560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 566, 567, 568, 570, 571, 572, 573, 574, 575, 576, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 583, 584, 585, 586, 587, 588, 589, 590, 591, 592, 593, 594, 595, 596, 597, 598, 599, 600, 601, 602, 603, 604, 605, 606, 607, 608, 609, 610, 611, 612, 613, 614, 615, 616, 617, 618, 619, 620, 621, 622, 623, 624, 625, 626, 627, 628, 629, 630, 631, 632, 633, 634, 635, 636, 637, 638, 639, 640, 641, 642, 643, 644, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 650, 651, 652, 653, 654, 655, 656, 657, 658, 659, 660, 661, 662, 663, 664, 665, 666, 667, 668, 669, 670, 671, 672, 673, 674, 675, 676, 677, 678, 679, 680, 681, 682, 683, 684, 685, 686, 687, 688, 689, 690, 691, 692, 693, 694, 695, 696, 697, 700, 701, 702, 703, 706, 707, 708, 709, 712, 713, 714, 715, 718, 719, 720, 721, or active variants and fragments thereof, and complements thereof, wherein said polynucleotide encodes a silencing element having insecticidal activity against a Coleoptera plant pest; or   (c) the nucleotide sequence comprising at least 19 consecutive nucleotides of any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 5, 8, 9, 12, 13, 16, 17, 20, 21, 24, 25, 28, 29, 32, 33, 36, 37, 40, 41, 44, 45, 48, 49, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 60, 61, 64, 65, 68, 69, 72, 73, 76, 77, 80, 81, 84, 85, 88, 89, 92, 93, 96, 97, 100, 101, 104, 105, 108, 109, 112, 113, 116, 117, 120, 121, 124, 125, 128, 129, 132, 133, 136, 137, 140, 141, 144, 145, 148, 149, 152, 153, 156, 157, 160, 161, 164, 165, 168, 169, 172, 173, 176, 177, 180, 181, 184, 185, 188, 189, 192, 193, 196, 197, 200, 201, 204, 205, 208, 209, 212, 213, 216, 217, 220, 221, 224, 225, 228, 229, 232, 233, 236, 237, 240, 241, 244, 245, 248, 249, 252, 253, 256, 257, 260, 261, 264, 265, 268, 269, 272, 273, 276, 277, 280, 281, 284, 285, 288, 289, 292, 293, 296, 297, 300, 301, 304, 305, 308, 309, 312, 313, 316, 317, 320, 321, 324, 325, 328, 329, 332, 333, 336, 337, 340, 341, 344, 345, 348, 349, 352, 353, 356, 357, 360, 361, 364, 365, 368, 369, 372, 373, 376, 377, 380, 381, 384, 385, 388, 389, 392, 393, 396, 397, 400, 401, 404, 405, 408, 409, 412, 413, 416, 417, 420, 421, 424, 425, 428, 429, 432, 433, 436, 437, 440, 441, 444, 445, 448, 449, 452, 453, 456, 457, 460, 461, 464, 465, 468, 469, 472, 473, 476, 477, 480, 481, 484, 485, 488, 489, 492, 493, 496, 497, 500, 501, 504, 505, 508, 509, 512, 513, 516, 517, 520, 521, 524, 525, 528, 529, 532, 533, 536, 537, 540, 541, 544, 545, 548, 549, 552, 553, 556, 557, 560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 566, 567, 568, 570, 571, 572, 573, 574, 575, 576, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 583, 584, 585, 586, 587, 588, 589, 590, 591, 592, 593, 594, 595, 596, 597, 598, 599, 600, 601, 602, 603, 604, 605, 606, 607, 608, 609, 610, 611, 612, 613, 614, 615, 616, 617, 618, 619, 620, 621, 622, 623, 624, 625, 626, 627, 628, 629, 630, 631, 632, 633, 634, 635, 636, 637, 638, 639, 640, 641, 642, 643, 644, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 650, 651, 652, 653, 654, 655, 656, 657, 658, 659, 660, 661, 662, 663, 664, 665, 666, 667, 668, 669, 670, 671, 672, 673, 674, 675, 676, 677, 678, 679, 680, 681, 682, 683, 684, 685, 686, 687, 688, 689, 690, 691, 692, 693, 694, 695, 696, 697, 700, 701, 702, 703, 706, 707, 708, 709, 712, 713, 714, 715, 718, 719, 720, 721, or active variants and fragments thereof, and complements thereof, wherein said polynucleotide encodes a silencing element having insecticidal activity against a Coleoptera plant pest.   
     
     
         2 . The isolated polynucleotide of  claim 1 , wherein said Coleoptera plant pest is a  Diabrotica  plant pest. 
     
     
         3 . An expression cassette comprising the polynucleotide of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         4 . The expression cassette of  claim 3 , wherein said polynucleotide is operably linked to a heterologous promoter. 
     
     
         5 . The expression cassette of  claim 3 , wherein said polynucleotide is expressed as a double stranded RNA. 
     
     
         6 . The expression cassette of  claim 3 , wherein said polynucleotide comprise a silencing element which is expressed as a hairpin RNA. 
     
     
         7 . The expression cassette of  claim 6 , wherein the silencing element comprises, in the following order, a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment, wherein
 a) said first segment comprises at least about 19 nucleotides having at least 90% sequence complementarity to a target sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 5, 8, 9, 12, 13, 16, 17, 20, 21, 24, 25, 28, 29, 32, 33, 36, 37, 40, 41, 44, 45, 48, 49, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 60, 61, 64, 65, 68, 69, 72, 73, 76, 77, 80, 81, 84, 85, 88, 89, 92, 93, 96, 97, 100, 101, 104, 105, 108, 109, 112, 113, 116, 117, 120, 121, 124, 125, 128, 129, 132, 133, 136, 137, 140, 141, 144, 145, 148, 149, 152, 153, 156, 157, 160, 161, 164, 165, 168, 169, 172, 173, 176, 177, 180, 181, 184, 185, 188, 189, 192, 193, 196, 197, 200, 201, 204, 205, 208, 209, 212, 213, 216, 217, 220, 221, 224, 225, 228, 229, 232, 233, 236, 237, 240, 241, 244, 245, 248, 249, 252, 253, 256, 257, 260, 261, 264, 265, 268, 269, 272, 273, 276, 277, 280, 281, 284, 285, 288, 289, 292, 293, 296, 297, 300, 301, 304, 305, 308, 309, 312, 313, 316, 317, 320, 321, 324, 325, 328, 329, 332, 333, 336, 337, 340, 341, 344, 345, 348, 349, 352, 353, 356, 357, 360, 361, 364, 365, 368, 369, 372, 373, 376, 377, 380, 381, 384, 385, 388, 389, 392, 393, 396, 397, 400, 401, 404, 405, 408, 409, 412, 413, 416, 417, 420, 421, 424, 425, 428, 429, 432, 433, 436, 437, 440, 441, 444, 445, 448, 449, 452, 453, 456, 457, 460, 461, 464, 465, 468, 469, 472, 473, 476, 477, 480, 481, 484, 485, 488, 489, 492, 493, 496, 497, 500, 501, 504, 505, 508, 509, 512, 513, 516, 517, 520, 521, 524, 525, 528, 529, 532, 533, 536, 537, 540, 541, 544, 545, 548, 549, 552, 553, 556, 557, 560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 566, 567, 568, 570, 571, 572, 573, 574, 575, 576, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 583, 584, 585, 586, 587, 588, 589, 590, 591, 592, 593, 594, 595, 596, 597, 598, 599, 600, 601, 602, 603, 604, 605, 606, 607, 608, 609, 610, 611, 612, 613, 614, 615, 616, 617, 618, 619, 620, 621, 622, 623, 624, 625, 626, 627, 628, 629, 630, 631, 632, 633, 634, 635, 636, 637, 638, 639, 640, 641, 642, 643, 644, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 650, 651, 652, 653, 654, 655, 656, 657, 658, 659, 660, 661, 662, 663, 664, 665, 666, 667, 668, 669, 670, 671, 672, 673, 674, 675, 676, 677, 678, 679, 680, 681, 682, 683, 684, 685, 686, 687, 688, 689, 690, 691, 692, 693, 694, 695, 696, 697, 700, 701, 702, 703, 706, 707, 708, 709, 712, 713, 714, 715, 718, 719, 720, 721, or active variants and fragments thereof, and complements thereof;   b) said second segment comprises a loop of sufficient length to allow the silencing element to be transcribed as a hairpin RNA; and,   c) said third segment comprises at least about 19 nucleotides having at least 85% complementarity to the first segment.   
     
     
         8 . The expression cassette of  claim 3 , wherein said polynucleotide is flanked by a first operably linked convergent promoter at one terminus of the polynucleotide and a second operably linked convergent promoter at the opposing terminus of the polynucleotide, wherein the first and the second convergent promoters are capable of driving expression of the polynucleotide. 
     
     
         9 . A host cell comprising a heterologous expression cassette of  claim 3 . 
     
     
         10 . A plant cell having stably incorporated into its genome a heterologous polynucleotide comprising a silencing element, wherein said silencing element comprises
 a) a fragment of at least 19 consecutive nucleotides of any one SEQ ID NOS: 1, 5, 8, 9, 12, 13, 16, 17, 20, 21, 24, 25, 28, 29, 32, 33, 36, 37, 40, 41, 44, 45, 48, 49, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 60, 61, 64, 65, 68, 69, 72, 73, 76, 77, 80, 81, 84, 85, 88, 89, 92, 93, 96, 97, 100, 101, 104, 105, 108, 109, 112, 113, 116, 117, 120, 121, 124, 125, 128, 129, 132, 133, 136, 137, 140, 141, 144, 145, 148, 149, 152, 153, 156, 157, 160, 161, 164, 165, 168, 169, 172, 173, 176, 177, 180, 181, 184, 185, 188, 189, 192, 193, 196, 197, 200, 201, 204, 205, 208, 209, 212, 213, 216, 217, 220, 221, 224, 225, 228, 229, 232, 233, 236, 237, 240, 241, 244, 245, 248, 249, 252, 253, 256, 257, 260, 261, 264, 265, 268, 269, 272, 273, 276, 277, 280, 281, 284, 285, 288, 289, 292, 293, 296, 297, 300, 301, 304, 305, 308, 309, 312, 313, 316, 317, 320, 321, 324, 325, 328, 329, 332, 333, 336, 337, 340, 341, 344, 345, 348, 349, 352, 353, 356, 357, 360, 361, 364, 365, 368, 369, 372, 373, 376, 377, 380, 381, 384, 385, 388, 389, 392, 393, 396, 397, 400, 401, 404, 405, 408, 409, 412, 413, 416, 417, 420, 421, 424, 425, 428, 429, 432, 433, 436, 437, 440, 441, 444, 445, 448, 449, 452, 453, 456, 457, 460, 461, 464, 465, 468, 469, 472, 473, 476, 477, 480, 481, 484, 485, 488, 489, 492, 493, 496, 497, 500, 501, 504, 505, 508, 509, 512, 513, 516, 517, 520, 521, 524, 525, 528, 529, 532, 533, 536, 537, 540, 541, 544, 545, 548, 549, 552, 553, 556, 557, 560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 566, 567, 568, 570, 571, 572, 573, 574, 575, 576, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 583, 584, 585, 586, 587, 588, 589, 590, 591, 592, 593, 594, 595, 596, 597, 598, 599, 600, 601, 602, 603, 604, 605, 606, 607, 608, 609, 610, 611, 612, 613, 614, 615, 616, 617, 618, 619, 620, 621, 622, 623, 624, 625, 626, 627, 628, 629, 630, 631, 632, 633, 634, 635, 636, 637, 638, 639, 640, 641, 642, 643, 644, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 650, 651, 652, 653, 654, 655, 656, 657, 658, 659, 660, 661, 662, 663, 664, 665, 666, 667, 668, 669, 670, 671, 672, 673, 674, 675, 676, 677, 678, 679, 680, 681, 682, 683, 684, 685, 686, 687, 688, 689, 690, 691, 692, 693, 694, 695, 696, 697, 700, 701, 702, 703, 706, 707, 708, 709, 712, 713, 714, 715, 718, 719, 720, 721, or active variants and fragments thereof, and complements thereof; or,   b) the nucleotide sequence comprising at least 90% sequence identity to any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 5, 8, 9, 12, 13, 16, 17, 20, 21, 24, 25, 28, 29, 32, 33, 36, 37, 40, 41, 44, 45, 48, 49, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 60, 61, 64, 65, 68, 69, 72, 73, 76, 77, 80, 81, 84, 85, 88, 89, 92, 93, 96, 97, 100, 101, 104, 105, 108, 109, 112, 113, 116, 117, 120, 121, 124, 125, 128, 129, 132, 133, 136, 137, 140, 141, 144, 145, 148, 149, 152, 153, 156, 157, 160, 161, 164, 165, 168, 169, 172, 173, 176, 177, 180, 181, 184, 185, 188, 189, 192, 193, 196, 197, 200, 201, 204, 205, 208, 209, 212, 213, 216, 217, 220, 221, 224, 225, 228, 229, 232, 233, 236, 237, 240, 241, 244, 245, 248, 249, 252, 253, 256, 257, 260, 261, 264, 265, 268, 269, 272, 273, 276, 277, 280, 281, 284, 285, 288, 289, 292, 293, 296, 297, 300, 301, 304, 305, 308, 309, 312, 313, 316, 317, 320, 321, 324, 325, 328, 329, 332, 333, 336, 337, 340, 341, 344, 345, 348, 349, 352, 353, 356, 357, 360, 361, 364, 365, 368, 369, 372, 373, 376, 377, 380, 381, 384, 385, 388, 389, 392, 393, 396, 397, 400, 401, 404, 405, 408, 409, 412, 413, 416, 417, 420, 421, 424, 425, 428, 429, 432, 433, 436, 437, 440, 441, 444, 445, 448, 449, 452, 453, 456, 457, 460, 461, 464, 465, 468, 469, 472, 473, 476, 477, 480, 481, 484, 485, 488, 489, 492, 493, 496, 497, 500, 501, 504, 505, 508, 509, 512, 513, 516, 517, 520, 521, 524, 525, 528, 529, 532, 533, 536, 537, 540, 541, 544, 545, 548, 549, 552, 553, 556, 557, 560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 566, 567, 568, 570, 571, 572, 573, 574, 575, 576, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 583, 584, 585, 586, 587, 588, 589, 590, 591, 592, 593, 594, 595, 596, 597, 598, 599, 600, 601, 602, 603, 604, 605, 606, 607, 608, 609, 610, 611, 612, 613, 614, 615, 616, 617, 618, 619, 620, 621, 622, 623, 624, 625, 626, 627, 628, 629, 630, 631, 632, 633, 634, 635, 636, 637, 638, 639, 640, 641, 642, 643, 644, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 650, 651, 652, 653, 654, 655, 656, 657, 658, 659, 660, 661, 662, 663, 664, 665, 666, 667, 668, 669, 670, 671, 672, 673, 674, 675, 676, 677, 678, 679, 680, 681, 682, 683, 684, 685, 686, 687, 688, 689, 690, 691, 692, 693, 694, 695, 696, 697, 700, 701, 702, 703, 706, 707, 708, 709, 712, 713, 714, 715, 718, 719, 720, 721, or active variants and fragments thereof, and complements thereof;   wherein said silencing element, when ingested by a Coleoptera plant pest, reduces the level of a target sequence in said Coleoptera plant pest and thereby controls the Coleoptera plant pest.   
     
     
         11 . The plant cell of  claim 10 , wherein the Coleoptera plant pest is a  Diabrotica  plant pest. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The plant cell of  claim 10 , wherein said plant cell comprises the expression cassette of  claim 8 . 
     
     
         14 . The plant cell of  claim 10 , wherein said silencing element expresses a double stranded RNA. 
     
     
         15 . The plant cell of  claim 10 , wherein said silencing element expresses a hairpin RNA. 
     
     
         16 . The plant cell of  claim 15 , wherein said polynucleotide comprising the silencing element comprises, in the following order, a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment, wherein
 a) said first segment comprises at least about 19 nucleotides having at least 90% sequence complementarity to a target sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 5, 8, 9, 12, 13, 16, 17, 20, 21, 24, 25, 28, 29, 32, 33, 36, 37, 40, 41, 44, 45, 48, 49, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 60, 61, 64, 65, 68, 69, 72, 73, 76, 77, 80, 81, 84, 85, 88, 89, 92, 93, 96, 97, 100, 101, 104, 105, 108, 109, 112, 113, 116, 117, 120, 121, 124, 125, 128, 129, 132, 133, 136, 137, 140, 141, 144, 145, 148, 149, 152, 153, 156, 157, 160, 161, 164, 165, 168, 169, 172, 173, 176, 177, 180, 181, 184, 185, 188, 189, 192, 193, 196, 197, 200, 201, 204, 205, 208, 209, 212, 213, 216, 217, 220, 221, 224, 225, 228, 229, 232, 233, 236, 237, 240, 241, 244, 245, 248, 249, 252, 253, 256, 257, 260, 261, 264, 265, 268, 269, 272, 273, 276, 277, 280, 281, 284, 285, 288, 289, 292, 293, 296, 297, 300, 301, 304, 305, 308, 309, 312, 313, 316, 317, 320, 321, 324, 325, 328, 329, 332, 333, 336, 337, 340, 341, 344, 345, 348, 349, 352, 353, 356, 357, 360, 361, 364, 365, 368, 369, 372, 373, 376, 377, 380, 381, 384, 385, 388, 389, 392, 393, 396, 397, 400, 401, 404, 405, 408, 409, 412, 413, 416, 417, 420, 421, 424, 425, 428, 429, 432, 433, 436, 437, 440, 441, 444, 445, 448, 449, 452, 453, 456, 457, 460, 461, 464, 465, 468, 469, 472, 473, 476, 477, 480, 481, 484, 485, 488, 489, 492, 493, 496, 497, 500, 501, 504, 505, 508, 509, 512, 513, 516, 517, 520, 521, 524, 525, 528, 529, 532, 533, 536, 537, 540, 541, 544, 545, 548, 549, 552, 553, 556, 557, 560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 566, 567, 568, 570, 571, 572, 573, 574, 575, 576, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 583, 584, 585, 586, 587, 588, 589, 590, 591, 592, 593, 594, 595, 596, 597, 598, 599, 600, 601, 602, 603, 604, 605, 606, 607, 608, 609, 610, 611, 612, 613, 614, 615, 616, 617, 618, 619, 620, 621, 622, 623, 624, 625, 626, 627, 628, 629, 630, 631, 632, 633, 634, 635, 636, 637, 638, 639, 640, 641, 642, 643, 644, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 650, 651, 652, 653, 654, 655, 656, 657, 658, 659, 660, 661, 662, 663, 664, 665, 666, 667, 668, 669, 670, 671, 672, 673, 674, 675, 676, 677, 678, 679, 680, 681, 682, 683, 684, 685, 686, 687, 688, 689, 690, 691, 692, 693, 694, 695, 696, 697, 700, 701, 702, 703, 706, 707, 708, 709, 712, 713, 714, 715, 718, 719, 720, 721, or active variants and fragments thereof, and complements thereof;   b) said second segment comprises a loop of sufficient length to allow the silencing element to be transcribed as a hairpin RNA; and,   c) said third segment comprises at least about 19 nucleotides having at least 85% complementarity to the first segment.   
     
     
         17 . The plant cell of  claim 10 , wherein said silencing element is operably linked to a heterologous promoter. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method for controlling a Coleoptera plant pest comprising feeding to a Coleoptera plant pest a composition comprising a silencing element, wherein said silencing element, when ingested by said Coleoptera plant pest, reduces the level of a target Coleoptera plant pest sequence and thereby controls the Coleoptera plant pest, wherein said target Coleoptera plant pest sequence comprise a nucleotide sequence comprising at least 90% sequence identity to any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 5, 8, 9, 12, 13, 16, 17, 20, 21, 24, 25, 28, 29, 32, 33, 36, 37, 40, 41, 44, 45, 48, 49, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 60, 61, 64, 65, 68, 69, 72, 73, 76, 77, 80, 81, 84, 85, 88, 89, 92, 93, 96, 97, 100, 101, 104, 105, 108, 109, 112, 113, 116, 117, 120, 121, 124, 125, 128, 129, 132, 133, 136, 137, 140, 141, 144, 145, 148, 149, 152, 153, 156, 157, 160, 161, 164, 165, 168, 169, 172, 173, 176, 177, 180, 181, 184, 185, 188, 189, 192, 193, 196, 197, 200, 201, 204, 205, 208, 209, 212, 213, 216, 217, 220, 221, 224, 225, 228, 229, 232, 233, 236, 237, 240, 241, 244, 245, 248, 249, 252, 253, 256, 257, 260, 261, 264, 265, 268, 269, 272, 273, 276, 277, 280, 281, 284, 285, 288, 289, 292, 293, 296, 297, 300, 301, 304, 305, 308, 309, 312, 313, 316, 317, 320, 321, 324, 325, 328, 329, 332, 333, 336, 337, 340, 341, 344, 345, 348, 349, 352, 353, 356, 357, 360, 361, 364, 365, 368, 369, 372, 373, 376, 377, 380, 381, 384, 385, 388, 389, 392, 393, 396, 397, 400, 401, 404, 405, 408, 409, 412, 413, 416, 417, 420, 421, 424, 425, 428, 429, 432, 433, 436, 437, 440, 441, 444, 445, 448, 449, 452, 453, 456, 457, 460, 461, 464, 465, 468, 469, 472, 473, 476, 477, 480, 481, 484, 485, 488, 489, 492, 493, 496, 497, 500, 501, 504, 505, 508, 509, 512, 513, 516, 517, 520, 521, 524, 525, 528, 529, 532, 533, 536, 537, 540, 541, 544, 545, 548, 549, 552, 553, 556, 557, 560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 566, 567, 568, 570, 571, 572, 573, 574, 575, 576, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 583, 584, 585, 586, 587, 588, 589, 590, 591, 592, 593, 594, 595, 596, 597, 598, 599, 600, 601, 602, 603, 604, 605, 606, 607, 608, 609, 610, 611, 612, 613, 614, 615, 616, 617, 618, 619, 620, 621, 622, 623, 624, 625, 626, 627, 628, 629, 630, 631, 632, 633, 634, 635, 636, 637, 638, 639, 640, 641, 642, 643, 644, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 650, 651, 652, 653, 654, 655, 656, 657, 658, 659, 660, 661, 662, 663, 664, 665, 666, 667, 668, 669, 670, 671, 672, 673, 674, 675, 676, 677, 678, 679, 680, 681, 682, 683, 684, 685, 686, 687, 688, 689, 690, 691, 692, 693, 694, 695, 696, 697, 700, 701, 702, 703, 706, 707, 708, 709, 712, 713, 714, 715, 718, 719, 720, 721, or active variants and fragments thereof, and complements thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said Coleoptera plant pest comprises a  Diabrotica  plant pest. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said silencing element comprises
 a) a fragment of at least 19 consecutive nucleotides of any one SEQ ID NOS: 1, 5, 8, 9, 12, 13, 16, 17, 20, 21, 24, 25, 28, 29, 32, 33, 36, 37, 40, 41, 44, 45, 48, 49, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 60, 61, 64, 65, 68, 69, 72, 73, 76, 77, 80, 81, 84, 85, 88, 89, 92, 93, 96, 97, 100, 101, 104, 105, 108, 109, 112, 113, 116, 117, 120, 121, 124, 125, 128, 129, 132, 133, 136, 137, 140, 141, 144, 145, 148, 149, 152, 153, 156, 157, 160, 161, 164, 165, 168, 169, 172, 173, 176, 177, 180, 181, 184, 185, 188, 189, 192, 193, 196, 197, 200, 201, 204, 205, 208, 209, 212, 213, 216, 217, 220, 221, 224, 225, 228, 229, 232, 233, 236, 237, 240, 241, 244, 245, 248, 249, 252, 253, 256, 257, 260, 261, 264, 265, 268, 269, 272, 273, 276, 277, 280, 281, 284, 285, 288, 289, 292, 293, 296, 297, 300, 301, 304, 305, 308, 309, 312, 313, 316, 317, 320, 321, 324, 325, 328, 329, 332, 333, 336, 337, 340, 341, 344, 345, 348, 349, 352, 353, 356, 357, 360, 361, 364, 365, 368, 369, 372, 373, 376, 377, 380, 381, 384, 385, 388, 389, 392, 393, 396, 397, 400, 401, 404, 405, 408, 409, 412, 413, 416, 417, 420, 421, 424, 425, 428, 429, 432, 433, 436, 437, 440, 441, 444, 445, 448, 449, 452, 453, 456, 457, 460, 461, 464, 465, 468, 469, 472, 473, 476, 477, 480, 481, 484, 485, 488, 489, 492, 493, 496, 497, 500, 501, 504, 505, 508, 509, 512, 513, 516, 517, 520, 521, 524, 525, 528, 529, 532, 533, 536, 537, 540, 541, 544, 545, 548, 549, 552, 553, 556, 557, 560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 566, 567, 568, 570, 571, 572, 573, 574, 575, 576, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 583, 584, 585, 586, 587, 588, 589, 590, 591, 592, 593, 594, 595, 596, 597, 598, 599, 600, 601, 602, 603, 604, 605, 606, 607, 608, 609, 610, 611, 612, 613, 614, 615, 616, 617, 618, 619, 620, 621, 622, 623, 624, 625, 626, 627, 628, 629, 630, 631, 632, 633, 634, 635, 636, 637, 638, 639, 640, 641, 642, 643, 644, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 650, 651, 652, 653, 654, 655, 656, 657, 658, 659, 660, 661, 662, 663, 664, 665, 666, 667, 668, 669, 670, 671, 672, 673, 674, 675, 676, 677, 678, 679, 680, 681, 682, 683, 684, 685, 686, 687, 688, 689, 690, 691, 692, 693, 694, 695, 696, 697, 700, 701, 702, 703, 706, 707, 708, 709, 712, 713, 714, 715, 718, 719, 720, 721, or active variants and fragments thereof, and complements thereof; or,   b) a nucleotide sequence comprising at least 9000 sequence identity to any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 5, 8, 9, 12, 13, 16, 17, 20, 21, 24, 25, 28, 29, 32, 33, 36, 37, 40, 41, 44, 45, 48, 49, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 60, 61, 64, 65, 68, 69, 72, 73, 76, 77, 80, 81, 84, 85, 88, 89, 92, 93, 96, 97, 100, 101, 104, 105, 108, 109, 112, 113, 116, 117, 120, 121, 124, 125, 128, 129, 132, 133,136, 137, 140, 141, 144, 145, 148, 149, 152, 153, 156, 157, 160, 161, 164, 165, 168, 169, 172, 173, 176, 177, 180, 181, 184, 185, 188, 189, 192, 193, 196, 197, 200, 201, 204, 205, 208, 209, 212, 213, 216, 217, 220, 221, 224, 225, 228, 229, 232, 233, 236, 237, 240, 241, 244, 245, 248, 249, 252, 253, 256, 257, 260, 261, 264, 265, 268, 269, 272, 273, 276, 277, 280, 281, 284, 285, 288, 289, 292, 293, 296, 297, 300, 301, 304, 305, 308, 309, 312, 313, 316, 317, 320, 321, 324, 325, 328, 329, 332, 333, 336, 337, 340, 341, 344, 345, 348, 349, 352, 353, 356, 357, 360, 361, 364, 365, 368, 369, 372, 373, 376, 377, 380, 381, 384, 385, 388, 389, 392, 393, 396, 397, 400, 401, 404, 405, 408, 409, 412, 413, 416, 417, 420, 421, 424, 425, 428, 429, 432, 433, 436, 437, 440, 441, 444, 445, 448, 449, 452, 453, 456, 457, 460, 461, 464, 465, 468, 469, 472, 473, 476, 477, 480, 481, 484, 485, 488, 489, 492, 493, 496, 497, 500, 501, 504, 505, 508, 509, 512, 513, 516, 517, 520, 521, 524, 525, 528, 529, 532, 533, 536, 537, 540, 541, 544, 545, 548, 549, 552, 553, 556, 557, 560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 566, 567, 568, 570, 571, 572, 573, 574, 575, 576, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 583, 584, 585, 586, 587, 588, 589, 590, 591, 592, 593, 594, 595, 596, 597, 598, 599, 600, 601, 602, 603, 604, 605, 606, 607, 608, 609, 610, 611, 612, 613, 614, 615, 616, 617, 618, 619, 620, 621, 622, 623, 624, 625, 626, 627, 628, 629, 630, 631, 632, 633, 634, 635, 636, 637, 638, 639, 640, 641, 642, 643, 644, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 650, 651, 652, 653, 654, 655, 656, 657, 658, 659, 660, 661, 662, 663, 664, 665, 666, 667, 668, 669, 670, 671, 672, 673, 674, 675, 676, 677, 678, 679, 680, 681, 682, 683, 684, 685, 686, 687, 688, 689, 690, 691, 692, 693, 694, 695, 696, 697, 700, 701, 702, 703, 706, 707, 708, 709, 712, 713, 714, 715, 718, 719, 720, 721, or active variants and fragments thereof, and complements thereof.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said  Diabrotica  plant pest comprises  D. virgifera virgifera, D. virgifera zeae, D. speciosa, D. barberi, D. virgifera zeae, D. speciosa , or  D. undecimpunctata howardi.    
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said silencing element expresses a double stranded RNA. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said silencing element comprises a hairpin RNA. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said polynucleotide comprising the silencing element comprises, in the following order, a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment, wherein
 a) said first segment comprises at least about 19 nucleotides having at least 90% sequence complementarity to the target polynucleotide;   b) said second segment comprises a loop of sufficient length to allow the silencing element to be transcribed as a hairpin RNA; and,   c) said third segment comprises at least about 19 nucleotides having at least 85% complementarity to the first segment.   
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . (canceled)