Cactus nucleic acid molecules to control coleopteran 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:84-90 and 108-113;

• the complement of any of SEQ ID NOs:84-90 and 108-113;
• a fragment of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of any of SEQ ID NOs:84-90 and 108-113;
• the complement of a fragment of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of any of SEQ ID NOs:84-90 and 108-113;
• a transcript of any of SEQ ID NOs:1, 95, 97, 99, 101, and 103;
• and the complement of a transcript of any of SEQ ID NOs:1, 95, 97, 99, 101, and 103.

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

• SEQ ID NOs:84-90 and 108-113;
• the complement of any of SEQ ID NOs:84-90 and 108-113;
• a fragment of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of any of SEQ ID NOs:84-90 and 108-113;
• the complement of a fragment of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of any of SEQ ID NOs:84-90 and 108-113;
• a transcript of any of SEQ ID NOs:1, 95, 97, 99, 101, and 103;
• the complement of a transcript of any of SEQ ID NOs:1, 95, 97, 99, 101, and 103;
• a fragment of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of a transcript of any of SEQ ID NOs:1, 95, 97, 99, 101, and 103;
• and
• the complement of a fragment of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of a transcript of any of SEQ ID NOs:1, 95, 97, 99, 101, and 103.

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

• transforming a plant cell with a vector comprising a means for providing cactus-mediated Diabrotica 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 means for providing cactus-mediated Diabrotica pest protection to a plant into their genomes;
• screening the transformed plant cells for expression of a means for inhibiting expression of a cactus gene in a Diabrotica pest;
• and
• selecting a plant cell that expresses the means for inhibiting expression of a cactus gene in a Diabrotica pest.

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

• transforming a plant cell with a vector comprising a means for providing cactus-mediated Meligethes 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 means for providing cactus-mediated Meligethes pest protection to a plant into their genomes;
• screening the transformed plant cells for expression of a means for inhibiting expression of a cactus gene in a Meligethes pest;
• and
• selecting a plant cell that expresses the means for inhibiting expression of a cactus gene in a Meligethes pest.