Nanotechnology-driven gene silencing: advancements in SIGS–dsRNA technology for sustainable disease management

作者：Muhammad Imran, Xianyang Feng, Zhongke Sun, Hanan Al Omari, Gaoyang Zhang, Jiayu Zhu, Munirah F. Aldayel, Chengwei Li · 发表于：Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1186/s40538-025-00738-6 · 被引用次数：45 · 研究领域：CRISPR and Genetic Engineering、Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques、RNA Interference and Gene Delivery

Among the fungal diseases, Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused by Fusarium graminearum, is one of the most destructive disease affecting wheat. This pathogen poses significant threats to global wheat production, leading to substantial yield losses and contaminating grains with harmful mycotoxins. The chemical control of FHB has become increasingly challenging due to the rise of pathogen resistance, environmental concerns, and the effects of climate change. This review introduces a novel approach to disease management through spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS), a cutting-edge technology that uses double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) to silence critical genes in both the fungus and the host plant. This silencing reduces pathogen virulence and enhances plant resilience. A key innovation is the integration of nanotechnology to improve the delivery of dsRNA, addressing challenges related to stability, cellular uptake, and targeting efficiency in field conditions. Nanocarriers have revolutionized dsRNA delivery by improving its encapsulation efficiency, precision, and stability, compared to traditional methods. Advances in cost-effective dsRNA production, particularly through microbial expression systems, enable scalable and sustainable implementation of this technology. This review emphasizes the potential of nanocarrier systems in precision agriculture and highlights their role in replacing harmful chemical treatments with RNA interference (RNAi)-based solutions. RNAi-based approaches not...