On the afternoon of September 17, 2026, the 16th Zhixing Forum, concurrently serving as a seminar within the lecture series "How to Be an Effective Educator," was held in Room A212 of the Science and Life Building at Qianhu Campus. The event was chaired by Dr. Daxian Zhzao, Deputy Dean of the School. Dr. Bin Xia, Secretary of the Party Committee, Professor, and Doctoral Supervisor at NCU School of Life Sciences, delivered an academic report entitled "Applications of Biomanufacturing in Agriculture: A Case Study on the Development of Novel RNAi-Based Biopesticides Targeting  Asian citrus psyllid, the Vector of Citrus Huanglongbing."

Dr. Xia commenced his lecture by introducing the macro-concept of biomanufacturing, identifying it as a key future industrial direction prioritized by the state and a significant guideline for revising training programs for biotechnology majors within the school. He emphasized that biomanufacturing extends beyond the pharmaceutical and food sectors to encompass vast application prospects in agriculture, including biopesticides, biofeeds, and biofertilizers. The report focused primarily on the critical challenge facing the citrus industry: the prevention and control of citrus Huanglongbing (HLB). Dr. Xia noted that citrus is Jiangxi Province's most important fruit crop, with a planting area exceeding 3 million mu; however, HLB control remains severe. Long-term reliance on traditional chemical controls has led to increased resistance, while physical barriers suffer from coverage gaps, making the exploration of non-chemical control strategies urgent.   

Subsequently, Dr. Xia systematically presented his team's research on green pest management centered on RNA interference (RNAi) technology. Focusing on the primary citrus pests, the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri) and the Citrus red mite (Panonychus citri), the team conducted research integrating biological control via natural enemies and targeted RNAi control. In terms of biological control, the team significantly enhanced the predation efficiency of natural enemies by feeding them a formulation of pollen, yeast, and sucrose; utilized sex-determination genes to increase the proportion of female offspring; and employed parasitoid wasps such as Tamarixia radiata and Anagyrus loecki for pest control. Regarding RNAi-mediated pest control, the team identified several key molecular targets. For P. citri, they targeted the cuticular protein CPR12, revealing its role in chitin and lipid metabolism and the maintenance of epidermal structural stability, with related findings published in Pest Management Science. For D. citri, they targeted the ecdysone receptor, demonstrating that silencing DcEcR and DcUSP significantly delayed growth, development, and reproduction while enhancing sensitivity to insecticides, with results published in Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology. Furthermore, the team achieved low-cost, large-scale production of dsRNA using engineered E. coli HT115 strains and developed nanocarriers for protection and delivery, including graphene oxide, chitosan, carbon quantum dots, and self-developed carboxymethyl cellulose nanoparticles (CMCPs), thereby realizing efficient delivery of RNAi-based biopesticides. Studies indicated that CMCP-delivered dsRNA was safe for non-target plants and natural enemies, showing no adverse effects on the germination and growth of soybeans, mung beans, or corn, and exhibiting no toxicity to ladybugs, parasitoid wasps, or predatory mites.

Drawing on his own experiences in teaching and research, Dr. Xia encouraged young faculty members and students to integrate fundamental research with practical applications and to bridge academic inquiry with social service. During the interactive session, participating faculty and students engaged with Dr. Xia on topics such as the field application prospects of RNAi pesticides and the cultivation of talent in biomanufacturing.