Nano-enabled spray-induced RNA interference against fungal pathogens of oilseed crops: carrier performance, delivery evidence and field translation.

Authors

Amjad Ali, Sana Hanif, Afifa Azad, Kanza Azad, Tehreem Eraf, Muhammad Aasim, Ashrit Gulfraz, Faheem Shehzad Baloch, Muhammad Shahbaz

Published in

World journal of microbiology & biotechnology. Volume 42. Issue 9. Aug 14, 2026. Epub Aug 14, 2026.

Abstract

Oilseed crops are exposed to fungal pathogens that are difficult to manage with durable host resistance or fungicides alone. Spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS) offers sequence-specific suppression of fungal genes, but naked double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is vulnerable to ultraviolet radiation, nucleases, rainfall and poor retention, and its passage into fungal cytoplasm is highly pathosystem dependent. This review critically evaluates whether nanocarriers resolve these constraints in oilseed crop protection. Host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) is considered only as a biological benchmark for target validation and fungal RNAi competence; the central analysis concerns exogenous RNA formulations. Evidence from soybean rust and Sclerotinia stem rot in oilseed rape demonstrates that RNA interference (RNAi) can suppress fungal development, while oilseed-specific nanocarrier data remain comparatively limited. Layered double hydroxides, chitosan and other polymers, lipid or extracellular-vesicle-inspired systems, and silica, carbon and hybrid materials are compared in terms of RNA loading, protection, release, uptake evidence, toxicity, scalability and field readiness. A central conclusion is that enhanced RNA stability or surface persistence must not be equated with improved fungal cytoplasmic delivery. Robust claims of delivery require carrier-release measurements, localization beyond the cell wall or endosomal compartment, sequence-specific transcript knockdown and appropriate carrier-only and non-target RNA controls. The review also defines practical requirements for RNA cargo design, spray compatibility, shelf life, large-scale dsRNA production, environmental risk assessment and commercialization. Regulatory approval of ledprona-based insect control provides a useful precedent for RNA biopesticides, but it is neither a nanocarrier product nor evidence of efficacy against fungi. Nano-enabled SIGS can become a credible component of integrated oilseed disease management only when formulation advantages are linked to mechanistic delivery evidence, reproducible field performance and transparent dual-component risk assessment of both RNA and carrier.

PMID:
42599546
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 15 Aug 2026.

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