HvStaufenC contributes to the high RNAi efficiency in the 28-spotted ladybeetle, Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata

RNA interference (RNAi) has been shown to be relatively effective in coleopteran insects, with limited exploration into the molecular mechanisms that underlie this effectiveness. This study specifically examines the 28-spotted ladybeetle, Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata (Hvig), known for its high RNAi efficiency. Here, we utilized RNAi and CRISPR/Cas9 techniques to identify and validate the genes involved in the RNAi pathway that enhance RNAi efficacy in Hvig. We identified a total of 15 potential genes within the RNAi pathway that may impact RNAi efficiency. The bioassay results showed that only knockdown of HvStaufenC in the 3rd instar larvae could block the abnormal body color phenotype and lethality induced by the subsequent silencing of the two marker genes, HvTH (tyrosine hydroxylase) and HvABCH1 (ATP-binding cassette H transporter gene), respectively. Additionally, successful CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of HvStaufenC led to the generation of stable, heritable mutants that exhibited insensitivity to RNAi, displaying no response to RNAi targeting HvTH and HvABCH1. Compared to the wild-type strain, the HvStaufenC knockout (HvStaufenCKO) mutant females demonstrated a 42 % decrease in oviposition rate and a 41.3 % reduction in egg hatchability. This study demonstrates that HvStaufenC gene is crucial for the RNAi efficiency of Hvig and offers new evidence into the RNAi mechanisms in coleopteran species.