Figure 4

Knockdown of AK2 in larvae by feeding dsRNA to newly hitched larvae suppressed larval growth and development. A. Western blot examining the efficacy of AK2 knockdown in the larvae fed with dsAK2; dsGFP was the nonspecific dsRNA control. B. Statistical analysis of the lower body weight that resulted from AK2 knockdown. C. Statistical analysis of the delayed developmental rate that resulted from AK2 knockdown, 4 M, 4th instar molting toward 5th instar; 5 M, 5th instar larvae molting toward 6th instar; p0, 0 day pupae. D. The off target control for the AK2 RNAi, Ha-AK1 and Ha-AK2 are the Helicoverpa AK1 and AK2, RT-PCR (left panel), the statistical analysis (right panel). The asterisks in B and D indicate significant differences from the dsGFP control (p < 0.05, n = 3 × 30) by student t test.