Semester of Graduation
Spring 2026
Degree
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Entomology
Document Type
Thesis
Abstract
Aphids are major agricultural pests that damage crops by feeding on plant phloem sap and transmitting viruses. Their survival and reproduction depends on their endosymbiont Buchnera aphidicola, which provides essential amino acids lacking in their diet. Understanding the molecular regulation of this symbiosis may reveal novel targets for sustainable aphid management. This study investigated the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in regulating aphid-Buchnera interactions, by (1) computationally predicting and annotating target genes of aphid symbiosis-related miRNAs in both Myzus persicae and Buchnera aphidicola, and (2) evaluating miRNA effects on aphid performance through bioassays. Using miRanda, RNAhybrid, and TargetScan, high-confidence miRNA targets were predicted based on overlapping results. KEGG annotation revealed that aphid targets are involved in amino acid biosynthesis, metabolism, and cellular regulation, while several Buchnera transcripts were predicted as potential cross-kingdom targets. Leaf-disk bioassays using Nicotiana tabacum infiltrated with synthetic miRNA mimics demonstrated that some miRNAs significantly reduced aphid survival, body size, or fecundity compared with controls. These findings suggest that aphid miRNAs can influence host–symbiont interactions, and impair aphid fitness, highlighting their potential as biopesticide for sustainable pest management.
Date
1-22-2025
Recommended Citation
Gonzales Diaz, Andie Alexander, "Target identification of Aphid symbiosis-related miRNAs and their effects on host fitness" (2025). LSU Master's Theses. 6277.
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_theses/6277
Committee Chair
Honglin Feng