A solution to minimize losses caused by stink bugs in soybean crops was developed at Unicamp by a group of researchers from the University's Institute of Biology (IB) . The technology originated from research coordinated by researcher Henrique Marques de Souza, an associate professor at the Institute, to control the action of stink bugs in soybean crops through RNA interference (RNAi), a biological process known as gene silencing.
Soybeans are Brazil's main agricultural commodity , and the country is the world's largest producer and exporter of soybeans. Despite this strength, its cultivation faces challenges in combating the stink bug, a pest responsible for billions of reais in annual losses.
"Considering that Brazil is a tropical and very hot country, there are many pests that can affect soybean cultivation, but the stink bug is the most damaging to this crop," Souza points out.
The technology was developed through a research and development agreement between Unicamp and the company TMG Tropical Melhoramento e Genética SA , which is a co-owner of the patent and holds its usage license. The Unicamp Innovation Agency (Inova Unicamp) , in collaboration with the Unicamp Development Foundation (Funcamp) , coordinated the technology protection and licensing strategy.
Direct and specific control
The invention is based on an RNAi strategy for controlling stink bugs of the species *Euschistus heros* , the most common in soybean crops. The approach activates the RNAi mechanism only in the target organisms, without the need for genetic modification. The method represents an advance in the development of sustainable crop protection strategies, promoting insect control in a more efficient, safer way for the farmer, and more sustainable for the environment.
The method is based on a central "dogma" in biology: that DNA generates RNA, and RNA generates protein. A virus, for example, takes advantage of this logic and inserts its own genetic material into the cell, which then begins to produce viral proteins without realizing it. In response, the cells develop defenses that recognize a specific type of viral molecule, double-stranded RNA, and destroy any genetic sequence similar to it.
The technology developed at IB takes advantage of precisely this natural defense. Researchers identify an essential gene in the organism they want to control and "design," in the laboratory, a double-stranded version of this gene. When this molecule is inserted into the insect, its own organism interprets the material as a viral threat and eliminates the corresponding gene, preventing the genetic information from being transformed into protein. Without this gene, the insect may stop developing, feeding, or reproducing.
“We study the biology of a pest, in this case the bed bug, and identify which gene, if removed, will lead to its death, stop it from feeding, or stop it from reproducing. We can draw the double helix according to what is identified as vital for the insect,” explains Souza.
More precise and sustainable control
The main advantage of this technology is its specificity. A conventional insecticide usually affects different insects present in the crop, including beneficial species. The RNA molecule, on the other hand, is designed to target only the chosen target, preserving pollinators and natural enemies of the pests themselves. In addition, it is a biological and biodegradable product.
This precision also defines the limits of the technology. It does not replace other control tools nor does it act as a single, immediate solution, since it depends on a biological process. Therefore, it is recommended that it be incorporated into integrated pest management, alongside other agronomic practices.
“It’s not a shock technique. It relies on the RNA molecule entering, silencing the gene, and stopping protein production so that the pest dies,” Souza emphasizes.
Read the full article on the Inova Unicamp website.
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