Research advances in the cross-kingdom regulation of small RNAs between crops and insects

The complex interplay between competition and symbiosis among plants and phytophagous insects has driven their long-term coevolutionary dynamics. Small RNAs (sRNAs), non-coding RNA molecules typically less than 300 nucleotides in length, act as key regulators of gene expression and influence organismal development. Notably, these sRNAs exhibit trans-kingdom mobility, enabling cross-species gene regulation, which plays a critical role in facilitating interspecific communication. This review synthesizes recent advances in sRNA-mediated cross-kingdom regulation within crop-pest systems. Plant-derived sRNAs can modulate insect growth, developmental processes, and reproduction, whereas insect-derived sRNAs can enter plants and regulate plant defense responses, among other functions. Small RNAs (sRNAs) possess high specificity for precise target gene recognition and strong structural stability, and plant-derived sRNAs can effectively regulate pests, giving them novel opportunities for pest management. Emerging strategies, such as transgenic crops expressing pest-specific sRNAs or developing novel green nucleic acid-based pesticides, offer innovative approaches for agricultural pest management.