CRISPR/Cas9 Mutagenesis to Generate Novel Traits in Bactrocera tryoni for Sterile Insect Technique

Abstract

Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is a biocontrol strategy that has been widely utilized to suppress or eradicate outbreak populations of insect pests such as tephritid fruit flies. As SIT is highly favored due to it being species-specific and environmentally friendly, there are constant efforts to improve the efficiency and efficacy of this method in particular at low pest densities; one of which is the use of genetically enhanced strains. Development of these desirable strains has been facilitated by the emergence of the CRISPR/Cas genome-editing technology that enables the rapid and precise genomic modification of non-model organisms. Here, we describe the manual microinjection of CRISPR/Cas9 reagents into tephritid pest Bactrocera tryoni (Queensland fruit fly) embryos to introduce ideal traits as well as the molecular methods used to detect successful mutagenesis.

Keywords: Bactrocera tryoni; CRISPR/Cas mutagenesis; Embryo microinjections; Genetic sexing strains; Queensland fruit fly; Sterile insect technique; Tephritids.