@article{JIN2026, 
author = {Han JIN and Hao-Tian FENG and Qing-Tao HU and Zhao-Hui MO and Chun-Mei LI and Kai LIU},
title = {Research advances in the cross-kingdom regulation of small RNAs between crops and insects},
year = {2026},
journal = {Journal of Environmental Entomology},
volume = {48},
number = {3},
pages = {779-789},
keywords = {Crop, insect, small RNA, cross-kingdom regulation, eco-friendly pest management},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.3969/j.issn.1674-0858.2026.03.13},
doi = {10.3969/j.issn.1674-0858.2026.03.13},
abstract = {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.}
}