Fsh nucleic acid molecules to control insect pests

A method for controlling an insect pest population, the method comprising providing an agent comprising a ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecule that functions upon contact with the insect pest to inhibit a biological function within the pest, wherein the RNA is specifically hybridizable with a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:89-98;

• the complement of any of SEQ ID NOs:89-98;
• the reverse complement of any of SEQ ID NOs:89-98;
• a fragment of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of any of SEQ ID NOs:89-98;
• the complement of a fragment of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of any of SEQ ID NOs:89-98;
• the reverse complement of a fragment of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of any of SEQ ID NOs:89-98;
• a transcript of any of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:76, and SEQ ID NO:78;
• the complement of a transcript of any of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:76, and SEQ ID NO:78;
• the reverse complement of a transcript of any of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:76, and SEQ ID NO:78;
• a fragment of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of a transcript of any of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:76, and SEQ ID NO:78;
• the complement of a fragment of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of a transcript of any of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:76, and SEQ ID NO:78;
• and the reverse complement of a fragment of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of a transcript of any of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:76, and SEQ ID NO:78.

A method of controlling an insect pest infestation in a plant, the method comprising providing in the diet of the insect pest a ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecule comprising a polyribonucleotide that is specifically hybridizable with a reference polyribonucleotide selected from the group consisting of:

• SEQ ID NOs:89-98;
• the complement or reverse complement of any of SEQ ID NOs:89-98;
• a fragment of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of any of SEQ ID NOs:89-98;
• the complement or reverse complement of a fragment of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of any of SEQ ID NOs:89-98;
• a transcript of any of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:76, and SEQ ID NO:78;
• the complement or reverse complement of a transcript of any of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:76, and SEQ ID NO:78;
• a fragment of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of a transcript of any of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:76, and SEQ ID NO:78;
• and
• the complement or reverse complement of a fragment of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of a transcript of any of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:76, and SEQ ID NO:78.

A method for producing a transgenic plant cell, the method comprising:

• transforming a plant cell with a vector comprising a fsh means for providing coleopteran pest protection to a plant;
• culturing the transformed plant cell under conditions sufficient to allow for development of a plant cell culture comprising a plurality of transformed plant cells;
• selecting for transformed plant cells that have integrated the fsh means for providing coleopteran pest protection to a plant into their genomes;
• screening the transformed plant cells for expression of a fsh means for inhibiting expression of an essential gene in a coleopteran pest;
• and
• selecting a plant cell that expresses the fsh means for inhibiting expression of an essential gene in a coleopteran pest.

A method for producing a transgenic plant cell, the method comprising:

• transforming a plant cell with a vector comprising a fsh means for providing hemipteran pest protection to a plant;
• culturing the transformed plant cell under conditions sufficient to allow for development of a plant cell culture comprising a plurality of transformed plant cells;
• selecting for transformed plant cells that have integrated the fsh means for providing hemipteran pest protection to a plant into their genomes;
• screening the transformed plant cells for expression of a fsh means for inhibiting expression of an essential gene in a hemipteran pest;
• and
• selecting a plant cell that expresses the fsh means for inhibiting expression of an essential gene in a hemipteran pest.