Co-silence of the coatomer β and v-ATPase A genes by siRNA feeding reduces larval survival rate and weight gain of cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera.

Coatomer and v-ATPase are two genes expressed in insect midgut epithelial cells and their knockdown is lethal to insect larvae. To investigate the RNAi response mediated by multiple siRNA duplexes, partial length cDNA of Helicoverpa armigera coatomer β and v-ATPase A was cloned and siRNA feeding-based RNAi was performed. Simultaneous ingestion of siRNAs specific to the H. armigera coatomer β and v-ATPase A led to co-silencing of the target genes and reduction in larval survival rate and weight gain. These results suggest that silencing two genes by feeding of multiple siRNAs is a good RNAi strategy.