# A draft genome assembly of the agricultural pest Leucoptera coffeella and analysis of its dsRNA processing machinery is a key step toward RNAi-based biopesticides in Lepidoptera

## TL;DR

This paper presents a draft genome of the Coffee Leaf Miner and identifies genes involved in RNAi, which could lead to new biopesticides for controlling this pest.

## Contribution

The study provides a draft genome assembly and identifies RNAi-related genes in Leucoptera coffeella, offering targets for biopesticide development.

## Key findings

- A draft genome of Leucoptera coffeella was assembled with high gene completeness (91.7%).
- Seven core genes of the small interfering RNA machinery were identified and confirmed via qPCR.
- The findings highlight potential targets for RNAi-based biopesticides in Lepidoptera.

## Abstract

The Coffee Leaf Miner (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae: Leucoptera coffeella) is a specialist herbivore and major global pest of coffee plants. Current pest control strategies primarily rely on chemical pesticides which in turn negatively impact both human health and ecological stability. Additionally, the emergence of insecticide-resistant populations underscores the urgent need for more specific and efficient pest management strategies. The development of novel techniques for controlling this insect pest requires rigorous interrogation of its physiology and interactions with host plants at a molecular/genetic level. To enable future research in this vein, we sequenced and assembled a draft L. coffeella genome using PacBio highly accurate long-reads (HiFi). Our assembly is comprised of 1,615 contigs showing fragmentation, yet the majority of gene content is represented (BUSCO complete = 91.7%). We annotated 17,467 protein-coding genes within our assembly, seven of which are core components of the small interfering RNA machinery. The expression of these genes was further confirmed via qPCR. This analysis—and the underlying genomic data—highlights potential targets for RNAi-based biopesticide development and will serve as the foundation for important future research aimed at protecting global coffee production from one of its most destructive pests.