RNA-based control of plant diseases: a case study with Fusarium graminearum.

Abstract This chapter discusses recent work conducted to assess the potential of double-stranded (ds)RNA targeting essential fungal ergosterol biosynthesis genes to control the infection of barley by the necrotrophic pathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum. Regardless of how dsRNA is applied - by transgene expression (host-induced gene silencing, HIGS) or spray application (spray-induced gene silencing, SIGS) - the use of target-specific inhibitory RNA to mediate protection against fungal infection is a potential alternative to conventional chemicals, though many questions concerning field application of the novel technique remain unresolved.