Peptide nucleic acids (PNAS) with herbicidal effect, herbicidal peptide constructs and herbicide compositions, and related methods

Abstract

The present invention refers to an herbicide Nucleic Acid Analog (NAA), preferably an herbicidal Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA) suitable for controlling a pest plant, a peptide construct comprising said NAA and at least one selected from a cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) and / or a location signal peptide (LSP), and an herbicidal composition comprising the NAA and at least one agronomically suitable adjuvant. The invention also refers to a method for controlling a plant pest which comprises applying the composition of the present invention to a pest plant, and a method for silencing or modulating the expression of a target gene by applying the PNA or peptide construct of the present invention to a target cell.

Description

[0001] PEPTIDE NUCLEIC ACIDS (PNAs) WITH HERBICIDAL EFFECT, HERBICIDAL PEPTIDE CONSTRUCTS AND HERBICIDE COMPOSITIONS, AND RELATED METHODS

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention refers to an herbicide Nucleic Acid Analog (NAA), preferably an herbicidal Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA) suitable for controlling a pest plant, a peptide construct comprising said NAA and at least one selected from a of cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) and a location signal peptide (LSP), and an herbicidal composition comprising the NAA and at least one agronomically suitable adjuvant. The invention also refers to a method for controlling a plant pest by applying the composition of the present invention to a pest plant, and a method for silencing or modulating the expression of a target gene by applying the PNA or peptide construct of the present invention to a target cell.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are synthetic organic molecules analogous to single-stranded nucleic acid oligomers of both DNA or RNA. These may have gene modulating activities by both an antisense effect, if they are designed against mRNA, and an antigenic effect, if they are designed against a chromosomal gene. Both effects are more specific and effective than their natural analogues and have a lower risk of toxicity and off-target effects.

[0006] What distinguishes PNAs from other nucleic acid oligomers like RNAi molecules is their backbone. While DNA and RNA oligomers possess a backbone consisting of (deoxy-) ribose sugars connected by phosphodiesters, PNA oligomers are based on a backbone of N-(2- aminoethyl) glycine, connected by amide bond as in peptides. This change results in a number of important differences between PNA oligomers and their natural analogues.

[0007] The PNA’s backbone, being not natural, is not easily degraded enzymatically. More importantly, this backbone is uncharged, eliminating the intrinsic electrostatic repulsion between individual nucleotide strands contributing to higher hybridization forces. Partially due to this and for entropic reasons, the binding strength of PNA oligomers to both complementary strands of RNA and DNA is greater than that between complementary strands of DNA / DNA, DNA / RNA, or RNA / RNA. This translates into lower effective doses and greater sensitivity for PNA to a single base mismatch compared to DNA / RNA oligomers.

[0008] The antisense effect of PNAs has been described in the prior art. In particular, the use of antisense PNAs has been described for use as an insect pest control agent or antibacterial agent. The application of various types of antisense nucleic acids on the surface of plants in order to silence either endogenous genes or transgenes has also been described in the prior art, with examples proposing their use as herbicides.

[0009] Patent application WO2019222379A1 is directed to pest control compositions comprising “plant messenger packages” (PMPs) that are used to decrease the fitness of a pest or increase the fitness of a plant. The document discloses a method of pest control comprising the application of a nucleic acid, which was defined as being capable of comprising PNAs. It teaches that a PMP loaded with PNA can be used for reducing the fitness of an insect pest by producing the knock down of a gene in said insect pest.

[0010] US Patent Application N° 20180235210 discloses compositions directed towards Erwinia bacteria and methods making use of said composition. The document further discloses that the molecule to be used comprises a cell penetrating peptide covalently linked to a PNA molecule, resulting in the most effective mechanism for control of E. amylovora.

[0011] Patent application W02009066967A1 discloses an anti-sense PNA capable of recognizing microRNAs in a way that inhibits the activity or function of said microRNA, which may be associated with cell penetrating proteins to facilitate entry into a eukaryotic cell.

[0012] US Patent US9121022B2 discloses a method to use polynucleotides (either double-stranded RNA, single-stranded DNA, or hybrid DNA / RNA duplexes) as herbicides to control herbicideresistant plants, with or without the combined application of non-polynucleotide herbicides. The document further details polynucleotide sequences to be used for this purpose.

[0013] A study by Dalakouras et al. (DOI: 10.3389 / fpls.2016.01327) discloses the use of high-pressure spraying to deliver short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) into Nicotiana benthamiana plants and trigger gene silencing.

[0014] A study by Mai et al. (DOI: 10.1016 / j.synbio.2021 .11 .005) discloses the use of various forms of RNA (double stranded RNA, short hairpin RNA, RNAi microspheres) as herbicides based on RNA interference, targeting the invasive plant Mikania micrantha.

[0015] However, the inventors of the present invention have not found a disclosure or suggestion of an herbicidal composition comprising PNAs as an active ingredient, nor the use of PNAs as herbicidal agents.

[0016] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Since there’s a constant need for the development of new herbicide compositions and methods to battle the threat of plant pests to increase crop yields, and in light of the limitations of the prior art, a first aspect of the invention is to provide an herbicidal Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA) that targets a transcription start site (TSS) of an essential gene of an agronomically relevant weed, wherein the PNA comprises a sequence having between 10-20 contiguous bases from any one contiguous segment of the coding DNA strand of the target gene, ranging from 100 bases downstream to 100 bases upstream of the TSS of said target gene.

[0018] It is a second aspect of the invention to provide an herbicidal PNA that targets an mRNA of an essential protein of an agronomically relevant weed, wherein the PNA sequence comprises between 10-20 contiguous bases that are complementary to:

[0019] • any one contiguous segment located within the 100 bases at the 5’ end of the target mRNA, or

[0020] • any one contiguous segment ranging from 100 bases downstream to 100 bases upstream of the start codon of the target mRNA.

[0021] In an embodiment, the PNA of the first or second aspect of the invention comprises any one of the sequences as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1-165.

[0022] In an embodiment, the PNA of the first or second aspect has a length of 10, 1 1 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20 contiguous bases.

[0023] In an embodiment, the PNA of the first or second aspect of the invention silences, knocks down, down regulates or modulates negatively the expression of at least one target gene or mRNA from a pest plant of a genus selected from Abutilon spp., Acanthospermum spp., Acicarpha spp., Aeschynomene spp., Agrosthemna spp., Alopecurus spp., , Alternanthera spp., Amaranthus spp., Ambrosia spp., Ammi spp., Anoda spp., Anthemis spp., Artemisia spp., Avena spp., AzoIla spp., Baccharis spp., Bassia spp., Beckmannia spp., Bidens spp., , Bowlesia spp., Bromus spp., Capsella spp., Carduus spp., Centaurea spp., Oestrum spp., Chenopodium spp., Chloris spp., Chondrilla spp., Cirsium spp., Commelina spp., Convolvulus spp., Conyza spp., Cucumis spp., Cucurbita spp., Cynara spp., Cynodon spp., Cyperus spp., Datura spp., Daucus spp., Digitaria spp., Diplotaxis spp., Distichlis spp., Dysphania spp., Echinochloa spp., Echinodorus spp., Echium spp., Ehrharta spp., Eleocharis spp., Eleusine spp., Eragrostis spp., Erodium spp, Eryngium spp., Euphorbia spp., Flaveria spp., Fumaria spp., Galinsoga spp., Galium spp., Gnaphalium spp., Gomphrena spp., Hirschfeldia spp., Hybanthus spp., Hymenachne spp., Hypochaeris spp., Hypochaeris spp., Ibicella spp., Ipomoea spp., Iresine spp., Juncus spp., Lactuca spp., Lamium spp., Lepidium spp., Leptochloa spp., Limnobium spp., Lolium spp., Ludwigia spp., Luziola spp., Lysimachia spp., Malvastrum spp., Matricaria spp., Nicotiana spp., Nympho ides spp., Onopordum spp., Panicum spp., Parietaria spp., Pascalia spp., Paspalum spp., Petunia spp., Physalis spp., Plantago spp., Pluchea spp., Polygonum spp., Pontederia spp., Portulaca spp., Raphanus spp., Rapistrum spp., Richardia spp. Rumex spp., Sagittaria spp., Salsola spp., Schkuhria spp., Scirpus spp., Sesbania spp., Setaria spp., Sida spp., Silene spp., Sisymbrium spp., Solarium spp., Solidago spp., Sonchus spp., Sorghum spp., Steinchisma spp., Stellaria spp., Stipa spp., Tagetes spp., Taraxacum spp., Thalia spp., Tribulus spp., Urochloa spp, Verbena spp., Verbesina spp., Veronica spp., Vicia spp., Viola spp., and Xanthium spp.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the herbicidal PNA of the first aspect targets a gene and the herbicidal PNA of the second aspect targets the RNAm that results from the translation of that same gene. Therefore the PNA of the first and second aspects silence, knock down, downregulate or modulates negatively the expression of a target gene at different stages of the translation process. In an embodiment, the PNA of the first or second aspect of the invention targets at least one target gene or mRNA involved in an essential metabolic role, stress response, or in a defense response pathway selected from, but not limited to, the primary and secondary sulfate pathways, the auxin biosynthesis pathways (such as the lAOx pathway, TAA / YUC pathway, IPA pathway, and iaaM I iaaH pathway), the shikimate pathway, the nitrate assimilation pathway, the GS / GOGAT assimilation pathway, the aspartic acid metabolic pathway, the SOS pathway, the ABA signaling pathway, the JA signaling pathway, ethylene-signaling pathway, the chlorophyll synthesis pathway, the Krebs cycle pathway, the mitochondrial and chloroplast electron transport chains, antioxidant pathways, the Calvin cycle pathway, the flavine synthesis pathway, diacylglycerol and triacylglycerol synthesis pathways, the phosphatidylglycerol synthesis pathway.

[0025] A third aspect of the invention is to provide an herbicidal peptide construct comprising a PNA of the first or second aspect of the invention fused or linked to

[0026] • a cell-penetrating peptide (CPP), or

[0027] • a location signal peptide (LSP), wherein the CPP or the LSP is fused or linked to the N-terminus or the C-terminus of the PNA.

[0028] In an embodiment, the herbicidal peptide construct comprises a PNA of the first or second aspect of the invention having any one of the sequences of SEQ ID NO: 1-165.

[0029] In an embodiment, the herbicidal peptide construct comprises a CPP with an amino acid sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 214-227 and 297-302.

[0030] In an embodiment, the herbicidal peptide construct comprises a sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 166-213. Preferably, the herbicidal peptide construct consists of a sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 166-213.

[0031] In an embodiment, the herbicidal peptide construct comprises a LSP with an amino acid sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NO: 228-274. The herbicidal peptide of the third aspect, wherein it comprises the PNA of the first or second aspect of the invention fused or linked to

[0032] • a cell-penetrating peptide (CPP), and

[0033] • a location signal peptide (LSP), wherein the PNA, CPP and LSP are contiguously linked or fused to each other.

[0034] A fourth aspect of the invention is to provide an herbicide composition comprising at least one herbicide peptide construct of the third aspect of the invention, and at least one agronomically suitable adjuvant selected from surfactants, polar or non-polar solvents, pH adjusters, antioxidants, preservatives, adhesives, wetting agents, stabilizers, propellants, chelating agents, and / or dispersant agents.

[0035] In an embodiment, the herbicide composition comprises, more preferably contains, at least one compound selected from

[0036] • a lipidic system selected from any one of C12-200, CKK-E12, DLin-KC2-DMA, DLin-MC3- DMA, 1-2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSCP), cholesterol, PEG-2000-C- DMG, PEG-2000-DMG, DOTMA, DOTAP, H / SM-102, and ALC-0315;

[0037] • a polymeric system selected from any one of Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)(PLGA), Polyethylenimine (PEI), Poly(L-lysine)(PLL), Poly(beta-amino ester)s (PBAEs), Hyperbranched PBAE (hPBAE), and Charge-altering releasable transporter (CART), Poly(amidoamine)(PAMAM);

[0038] • a Lipid-polymer hybrid system selected from any one of PEG-DMPE, DSPE-PEG-NH2, DSPE-PEG-SH, and

[0039] • an inorganic system selected from any one of gold nanoparticles, Iron oxide nanoparticles, Calcium phosphate nanoparticles, Mesoporous silica nanoparticles, Chitosan nanoparticles, and layered double-hydroxide clay nanosheets (LDH).

[0040] A fifth aspect of the invention is to provide a method of controlling a plant pest, comprising the steps of a) providing a composition of the fourth aspect of the present invention, and b) applying an effective amount of said composition to a target pest plant.

[0041] A sixth aspect of the present invention is the use of a PNA of the first or second aspect, or an herbicide peptide construct of the third aspect of the present invention for controlling a plant pest.

[0042] A seventh aspect of the present invention is to provide a method for silencing, knocking down, downregulating or modulating negatively the expression of at least one target gene or mRNA, comprising the steps of a) providing a PNA of the first or second aspect of the present invention or a peptide construct of the third aspect of the present invention, b) introducing the PNA of the first or second aspect of the present invention or the peptide construct of the third aspect of the present invention into a target cell comprising said at least one target gene or mRNA.

[0043] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] Figure 1 shows the effect on Fluorescence Decay (%FD) dependent on the PNA length on Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings treated with 15 base long PNA-CPP peptide constructs, directed towards different regions of the target GFP gene, in a solution concentration between 1-100 pM.

[0045] Figure 2 shows the effect on Decay Severity (%DS) dependent on the PNA length on Conyza canadensis seedlings treated with 8-15 base long PNA-CPP peptide constructs, in a solution concentration between 1-100 pM.

[0046] Figure 3 shows the effect on Decay Severity (%DS) dependent on the plant growth stage using a PNA-CPP peptide construct, tested on Sorghum halepense, Conyza canadensis, Amaranthus hybridus.

[0047] Figure 4 shows the effect on Decay Severity (%DS) in relation to different cell-penetrating peptides (CPP) using a PNA-CPP peptide construct, tested on Sorghum halepense, Conyza canadensis, Amaranthus hybridus.

[0048] Figure 5 shows the effect on Decay Severity (%DS) in relation to different fallow formulations comprising different combinations of PNA-CPP peptide constructs, tested on Sorghum halepense, Conyza canadensis, and Amaranthus hybridus.

[0049] Figure 6 shows the effect on Decay Severity (%DS) in relation to the specificity of a PNA-CPPs targeted to essential genes of Conyza canadensis, using a 100 pM concentration formulation, tested on Conyza canadensis, Glycine max, and Triticum aestivum.

[0050] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0051] Any technical or scientific terminology used herein shall be understood by the common definition utilized in the art and / or understood by those skilled in the art, unless otherwise explicitly stated or inferred by context.

[0052] All embodiments of objects, methods, and / or aspects of the present invention resulting from the combination of any number of particular embodiments described herein are to be considered as falling within the scope of the present invention. As used herein, the terms “composition” and “formulation” may be used interchangeably throughout the present, and refer to a mixture of substances suitable for agricultural use that is designed with a specific intent, for example, to use as an herbicide against a plant pest, and / or to control a plant pest.

[0053] As used herein, the term “herbicide”, “herbicidal”, or variants thereof whenever referring to a substance (e.g., a PNA, or a peptide construct) or a combination of substances (e.g., a composition) refers to the ability of said substance or combination of substances to inhibit the ability of a plant pest to survive, grow, develop, and / or reproduce, or to limit plant pest-related damage or loss in plants or plant parts of interest. Preferably, the herbicide effect is the result of a toxic effect. The terms may or may not mean killing a plant pest, although it preferably means killing a plant pest.

[0054] As used herein, the terms “to control a plant pest”, “controlling a plant pest” and variants thereof refer to the action of inhibiting the ability of a plant pest to survive, grow, develop, and / or reproduce, or to limit plant pest-related damage or loss in plants or plant parts of interest. The terms may or may not mean killing a plant pest, although it preferably means killing a plant pest.

[0055] As used herein, the term “plant pest” refers to a plant whose presence, survival, growth, development, and / or reproduction is undesirable. The term may refer to a plant whose presence, survival, growth, development, and / or reproduction can result in the damage or loss of a plant or plant part of interest.

[0056] As used herein, the term “effective amount” or variants thereof whenever referring to a substance (e.g., a PNA, or a peptide construct) or a combination of substances (e.g., a composition) refers to an amount of said substance or combination of substances that results in a total or partial desired effect. Particularly, in the case of an herbicide, the term means an amount that results in a total or partial control of the plant pest, that is, a total or partial inhibition in the ability of a plant pest to survive, grow, develop, and / or reproduce, or to total or partially limit the plant pest-related damage or loss in plants or plant parts of interest.

[0057] As used herein, the term “Nucleic Acid Analog” or “NAA” refers to a molecule which is analogous, i.e. , structurally similar, to a naturally occurring or synthetic nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) and that has at least one of the following modified, when compared to said naturally occurring or synthetic nucleic acid: a phosphate backbone, a pentose sugar comprising ribose or deoxyribose, and a nucleobase (A, C, G, T or U). The term includes, for example, Peptide Nucleic Acids (PNAs)

[0058] As used herein, the term “Peptide Nucleic Acid” (PNA) refers to a particular type of Nucleic Acid Analog (NAA), wherein the ribose or deoxyribose sugar backbone of the molecule is replaced with a repeating N-(2-aminoethyl)-glycine unit linked by peptide bonds. Thanks to the peptide bonds, PNA can form polymers. Herein, the monomeric unit of a Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA) will be denominated as “base”, analogous to how the term is commonly used for the description of nucleic acids. Throughout the present specification, polypeptide sequences will be shown by their corresponding N-terminus to C-terminus sequence, nucleic acids will be shown by their corresponding 5’-end to 3’-end, and peptide nucleic acids will be described by the nucleotide sequence equivalent to a 5’-end to 3’-end of the complementary strand forthe target nucleic acid, wherein the 5’-end nucleotide corresponds to the N-terminus of the peptide nucleic acid. It should be noted that each “base” (monomer) of a PNA will be referred to by their corresponding nucleobase (A for adenine, C for cytosine, G for guanine, T for Thymine, U for Uracil).

[0059] For example, for the PNA of SEQ ID NO: 1 , its interaction with its respective nucleic acid target is the following:

[0060] N-terminal

[0061] 5' -

[0062] PNA sequence: T C T A C C A T G G T C

[0063] Target RNA: A G A U G G U A C C A G 3' -

[0064] As used herein, the term “contiguous bases”, or “contiguous segment” and similar expressions refers to a subset of consecutive bases that are contained within a particular sequence of a polynucleotide, polypeptide, or nucleic acid analog. Said subset may be defined by a minimum number of bases, e.g., comprising at least X bases long, by defining a range of possible lengths, e.g., comprising between X-Y bases long, or by a definite number of bases, e.g. comprising X bases long.

[0065] As used herein, the term “peptide construct” or “fusion peptide” are used interchangeably and refers to a molecule that consists of a peptide, for example a peptide nucleic acid (PNA) , covalently bound (fused) to at least one other moiety. The term includes the fusion of a peptide to at least one other organic moiety, which may itself be part of a larger structure like a complex, a particle, a capsule, etc. The term includes the fusion of said peptide to lipids, peptides or polypeptides, polymers, or combinations thereof. When describing the fusion of a peptide, for example a PNA, to another moiety, the terms “fused”, “linked to” and “bound” may be used interchangeably.

[0066] As used herein, the term “cell-penetrating peptide” (CPP) specifically refers to a peptide, polypeptide or protein that enables or enhances the entrance of a Nucleic Acid Analog (NAA) into a cell, e.g., a plant cell.

[0067] As used herein, the term “location signal peptide” (LSP) specifically refers to a peptide, polypeptide or protein that enables or enhances the ability to direct of a NAA into a particular subcellular location inside or outside of a cell, e.g., a plant cell.

[0068] Whenever describing a sequence of a peptide construct that comprises a PNA fused with another peptide, e.g. a CPP or a LSP, the different portions of the peptide constructs will be indicated with the upper and lower case. More specifically, the PNA portion will be indicated with upper case, and the portion comprising the other peptide will be indicated in lower case. As a non-limiting example, when a peptide construct comprises a PNA of sequence “CTTTCCCGAAAAACA” fused by the C-terminal to another peptide of sequence “LLRHLRRHIRRARRHIRR”, the peptide construct will be indicated as “CTTTCCCGAAAAACAIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr”.

[0069] As used herein, the terms “X-Y”, “from X to Y”, “between X and Y” when referring to ranges will be used interchangeably and shall be interpreted as a value including X and Y and any other value between these.

[0070] Although the use of PNAs to control insect and bacteria populations is known in the state of the art, the inventors of the present invention have developed herbicide PNAs directed against specific plant genes which are essential for their survival, growth, development, or reproduction. This characteristic allows the PNAs of the invention to exhibit an effective herbicidal effect. Furthermore, there are no teachings in the state of the art disclosing orsuggesting that PNAs can have an effective herbicidal effect, nor compositions comprising thereof.

[0071] Furthermore, as shown in the Examples, the herbicidal effect is surprisingly dependent on the length of the PNAs used. In particular, the present inventors have found that the herbicidal effect becomes significant when using PNAs of 10 or more bases long. It is in this way that the present invention provides novel PNAs with herbicidal effects that can result in an effective mechanics of control of plant pests that has not been reported in the prior art.

[0072] Thus, it is a first aspect of the invention is to provide an herbicidal Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA) that targets the transcription start site (TSS) of an essential gene of an agronomically relevant weed, wherein the PNA comprises a sequence having between 10-20 contiguous bases from any one contiguous segment of the coding DNA strand, ranging from 100 bases downstream to 100 bases upstream of the TSS of said target gene.

[0073] Additionally, it is a second aspect of the invention to provide an herbicidal PNA that targets an mRNA of an essential protein of an agronomically relevant weed, wherein the PNA sequence comprises between 10-20 contiguous bases that are complementary to any one contiguous segment:

[0074] • located within the 100 bases at the 5’ end of the target mRNA, or

[0075] • ranging from 100 bases downstream to 100 bases upstream of the start codon

[0076] In a preferred embodiment, the PNA of the first or second aspect comprises any one of the sequences of SEQ ID NO: 1-165. Preferably, the PNA of the first or second aspect consists of any one of the sequences of SEQ ID NO: 1-165.

[0077] In another embodiment, the PNA of the first or second aspect is capable of binding to any one sequence selected from:

[0078] • a target TSS comprising a sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 303-317,

[0079] • a target mRNA comprising a sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 318-332, or

[0080] • a target mRNA comprising a sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 333-347, wherein the TSS is of an essential gene of an agronomically relevant weed, or the mRNA is of an essential protein of an agronomically relevant weed

[0081] In another embodiment, the PNA of the first or second aspect of the invention comprises at least one modification within the alpha, beta and / or gamma position of the N-(2-aminoethyl) glycine backbone. Preferably, said modification comprises at least one selected from incorporating a L- serine, or incorporating a mini-PEG molecule. Preferably, the PNA of the first aspect of the invention comprises incorporating a L-serine or mini-PEG in the alpha, beta or gamma position of the N-(2-aminoethyl) glycine backbone, more preferably, incorporating a L-serine or mini-PEG in the gamma position.

[0082] In an embodiment, any one of the modifications described in the previous paragraph can be done to at least one monomer comprised in the PNA. Preferably, the modification is done in at least 10% of the monomers comprised in the PNA of the present invention, more preferably in 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% or 100% of the monomers comprised in the PNA.

[0083] The PNA of the first or second aspect of the invention is designed to silence, knock down, down regulate or modulate negatively the expression of at least one target gene from a pest plant such that it results in the control of said pest plant. That is, the PNA of the first aspect of the invention silences, knocks down, downregulates or modulates negatively the expression of at least one target gene comprising a gene essential for the survival, growth, development, or reproduction of a pest plant. Other elements may be linked to said PNA, for example, a CPP or a nuclear location signal peptide (NLSP), in order to improve or enhance the herbicidal activity of said PNA.

[0084] Furthermore, the PNA of the first or second aspect of the invention can silence, knock down, downregulate or modulate negatively the expression of at least one target gene by specifically binding to the complementary DNA or RNA sequence and hindering one or more, preferably three of the following stages: transcription, RNA processing and translation.

[0085] The PNA of the first or second aspect of the invention silences, knocks down, downregulates or modulates negatively at least one target gene by means of at least one of the following:

[0086] • inhibiting or diminishing the transcription of the mRNA of at least one target gene,

[0087] • inhibiting or diminishing the processing of the mRNA of at least one target gene, or

[0088] • inhibiting or diminishing the translation of the mRNA of at least one target gene.

[0089] In an embodiment, the inhibiting or diminishing of the transcription of the mRNA of at least one target gene may be performed by directing the PNA of the first or second aspect towards the promoter binding site inhibiting the binding of promoters of the RNA polymerase, or towards a region of the mRNA such that produces a steric blockage of the RNA polymerase.

[0090] In an embodiment, the inhibiting or diminishing of the processing of the mRNA of at least one target gene may be performed by directing the PNA of the second aspect towards splicing sites, thus promoting the synthesis of missense mRNA.

[0091] In an embodiment, the inhibiting or diminishing of the translation of the mRNA of at least one target gene may be performed by directing the PNA of the second aspect towards a region of the mRNA that produces a steric blockage of the ribosome.

[0092] In an embodiment, the PNA of the first or second aspect of the invention silences, knocks down, downregulates or modulates negatively at least one target gene from a pest plant of a genus selected from Abutilon spp., Acanthospermum spp., Acicarpha spp., Aeschynomene spp., Agrosthemna spp., Alopecurus spp., , Alternanthera spp., Amaranthus spp., Ambrosia spp., Ammi spp., Anoda spp., Anthemis spp., Artemisia spp., Avena spp., AzoIla spp., Baccharis spp., Bassia spp., Beckmannia spp., Bidens spp., , Bowlesia spp., Bromus spp., Capsella spp., Carduus spp., Centaurea spp., Oestrum spp., Chenopodium spp., Chloris spp., Chondrilla spp., Cirsium spp., Commelina spp., Convolvulus spp., Conyza spp., Cucumis spp., Cucurbita spp., Cynara spp., Cynodon spp., Cyperus spp., Datura spp., Daucus spp., Digitaria spp., Diplotaxis spp., Distichlis spp., Dysphania spp., Echinochloa spp., Echinodorus spp., Echium spp., Ehrharta spp., Eleocharis spp., Eleusine spp., Eragrostis spp., Erodium spp, Eryngium spp., Euphorbia spp., Flaveria spp., Fumaria spp., Galinsoga spp., Galium spp., Gnaphalium spp., Gomphrena spp., Hirschfeldia spp., Hybanthus spp., Hymenachne spp., Hypochaeris spp., Hypochaeris spp., Ibicella spp., Ipomoea spp., Iresine spp., Juncus spp., Lactuca spp., Lamium spp., Lepidium spp., Leptochloa spp., Limnobium spp., Lolium spp., Ludwigia spp., Luziola spp., Lysimachia spp., Malvastrum spp., Matricaria spp., Nicotiana spp., Nymphoides spp., Onopordum spp., Panicum spp., Parietaria spp., Pascalia spp., Paspalum spp., Petunia spp., Physalis spp., Plantago spp., Pluchea spp., Polygonum spp., Pontederia spp., Portulaca spp., Raphanus spp., Rapistrum spp., Richardia spp. Rumex spp., Sagittaria spp., Salsola spp., Schkuhria spp., Scirpus spp., Sesbania spp., Setaria spp., Sida spp., Silene spp., Sisymbrium spp., Solanum spp., Solidago spp., Sonchus spp., Sorghum spp., Steinchisma spp., Stellaria spp., Stipa spp., Tagetes spp., Taraxacum spp., Thalia spp., Tribulus spp., Urochloa spp, Verbena spp., Verbesina spp., Veronica spp., Vicia spp., Viola spp., Xanthium spp.

[0093] More preferably, it silences, knocks down, downregulates or modulates negatively at least one target gene of a pest plant selected from Alopecurus aequalis, Alopecurus myosuroides, Alopecurus geniculatus, Abutilon theophrasti, Acanthospermum hispidum, Acicarpha tribuloides, Aeschynomene denticulata, Aeschynomene rudis, Agrosthemna githago, Alopecurus myosuroides, Alternanthera kurtzii, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Amaranthus albus, Amaranthus deflexus, Amaranthus spinosus, Amaranthus viridis, Amaranthus hybridus, Amarathus palmeri, Amaranthus retroflexus, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Ammannia auriculata, Ammi majus, Anoda cristata, Anthemis cotula, Artemisia verlotiorum, Avena barbata, Avena fatua, AzoIla filiculoides, Baccharis ulicina, Bassia scoparia, Beckmannia syzigachne, Bidens subalternans, Bowlesia incana, Brassica napus, Brassica rapa, Bromus catharticus, Capsella bursa pastoris, Carduus acanthoides, Cardus thoermeri, Centaurea solstitialis, Oestrum parqui, Chenopodium album, Chloris virgata, Chondrilla juncea, Cirsium vulgare, Commelina difusa, Convolvulus arvensis, Conyza bonariensis, Conyza canadiensis, Conyza sumatrensis, Cucumis anguria, Cucurbita maxima ssp. andreana, Cynara cardunculus, Cynodon hirsutus, Cyperus aggregatus, Cyperus corymbosus var. subnodosus, Cyperus difformis, Cyperus esculentus, Cyperus iria, Cyperus luzulae, Cyperus odoratus, Cyperus pohlii, Cyperus rotundus, Datura ferox, Daucus pusillus, Digitaria insularis, Digitaria sanguinalis, Diplotaxis tenuifolia, Distichlis scoparia, Dysphania pumilio, Echinochloa chacoensis, Echinochloa colona, Echinochloa crusgalli, Echinochloa oryzoides, Echinodorus grandiflorus, Echium plantagineum, Ehrharta longiflora, Eleocharis bonariensis, Eleocharis haumaniana, Eleusine indica, Eleusine tristachya, Eragrostis curvula, Erodium cicutarium, Eryngium eburneum, Euphorbia papillosa, Euphorbia serpens, Flaveria bidentis, Fumaria officinalis, Galinsoga parviflora, Galium aparine, Gnaphalium gaudichaudianum, Gomphrena celosioides, Hirschfeldia incana, Hybanthus parviflorus, Hymenachne amplexicaulis, Hypochaeris chilensis, Hypochaeris radicata, Ibicella lutea, Ipomoea cordatotriloba, Ipomoea grandifolia, Ipomoea nil, Ipomoea purpurea, Iresine diffusa, Juncus imbricatus, Juncus microcephalus, Lactuca serriola, Lamium amplexicaule, Lepidium bonariense, Leptochloa chinensis, Limnobium laevigatum, Lolium multiflorum, Lolium perenne, Lolium rigidum, Ludwigia bonariensis, Ludwigia peploides, Luziola peruviana, Lysimachia arvensis, Malvastrum coromandelianum, Matricaria chamomilla, Nicotiana longiflora, Nicotiana noctiflora, Nymphoides indica, Onopordum acanthium, Panicum dichotomiflorum, Panicum urvilleanum, Parietaria debilis, Pascalia glauca, Paspalum dilatatum, Paspalum distichum, Paspalum modestum, Paspalum repens, Petunia axillaris, Physalis angulata, Physalis viscosa, Plantago lanceolata, Pluchea sagittalis, Polygonum acuminatum, Polygonum aviculare, Polygonum convolvulus, Polygonum hydropiperoides, Polygonum lapathifolium, Polygonum persicaria, Pontederia azurea, Portulaca oleracea, Raphanus sativus, Rapistrum rugosum, Richardia brasiliensis, Richardia stellaris, Rumex crispus, Sagittaria montevidensis, Sagittaria trifolia, Salsola kali, Salsola tragus, Schkuhria pinnata, Scirpus juncoides, Sesbania virgata, Setaria parviflora, Setaria pumila, Setaria verticillata, Setaria viridis, Sida rhombifolia, Sida spinosa, Silene gallica, Sisymbrium irio, Sisymbrium officinale, Sisymbrium chilense, Solanum angustifolium, Solanum elaeagnifolium, Solanum sisymbriifolium, Solidago chilensis, Sonchus oleraceus, Sorghum halepense, Steinchisma hians, Stellaria media, Stipa brachychaeta, Tagetes minuta, Taraxacum officinale, Thalia multiflora, Tribulus terrestris, Urochloa platyphylla, Urochloa panicoides, Verbena litoralis, Verbesina encelioides, Veronica persica, Vicia graminea, Viola arvensis, Xanthium spinosum, and Xanthium strumarium.

[0094] In an embodiment, the at least one target gene or mRNA is involved in an essential metabolic role, stress response, or defense response pathways selected from, but not limited to, the primary and secondary sulfate pathways, the auxin biosynthesis pathways (such as the lAOx pathway, TAA / YUC pathway, IPA pathway and the iaaM I iaaH pathway), the shikimate pathway, the nitrate assimilation pathway, the GS / GOGAT assimilation pathway, the aspartic acid metabolic pathway, the SOS pathway, the ABA signaling pathway, the JA signaling pathway, ethylene-signaling pathway, the chlorophyll synthesis pathway, the Krebs cycle pathway, the mitochondrial and chloroplast electron transport chains, antioxidant pathways, the Calvin cycle pathway, the flavine synthesis pathway, diacylglycerol and triacylglycerol synthesis pathways, the phosphatidylglycerol synthesis pathway.

[0095] More preferably, the at least one target gene or mRNA is selected from c-Type cytochrome biogenesis protein; Cytochrome c biogenesis protein-like; F0F1 ATP synthase subunit B'; Mg- protoporphyrin IX methyl transferase; Phosphoglycerate mutase; Bifunctional riboflavin kinase / FMN adenylyltransferase; 3-Oxoacyl-(acyl carrier protein) synthase II; Ribose-5- phosphate isomerase A; 50S ribosomal protein L10; 3-oxoacyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] reductase; 30S ribosomal protein S1 ; Shikimate kinase; Ferredoxin-NADP oxidoreductase; Photosystem I reaction center subunit II; Ribulose 1 ,5-bisphosphate carboxylase small subunit; 1-Acyl-sn- glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase; Ferredoxin; Ferredoxin; Iron-regulated ABC transporter permease protein SufD; Ribose-phosphate pyrophosphokinase; Superoxide dismutase; Catalase; Ascorbate peroxidase; Guaicol peroxidase; Monodehydroascorbate reductase; Dehydroascorbate reductase; Glutathione reductase; Glutathione S-transferase; Carbonic anhydrase; PEP carboxylase; Malate dehydrogenase; NADP-malic enzyme; Pyruvate Pi dikinase; Oxoglutarate / malate transporter; PEP / phosphatetranslocator; Dicarboxylate transporter ; Pyruvate / sodium symporter; Sodium / proton antiporter; Tonoplast dicarboxylate transporter; Aluminum-activated malate transporter; Histone H3-like centromeric protein CENH3; Protein mago nashi homolog; Exosome complex component RRP4 homolog; Probable ribonuclease P / MRP protein subunit POP5; Large ribosomal subunit protein uL6c; 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase; Protein TIC110, chloroplastic; Vacuolar protein sorting-associated protein 41 homolog; mRNA-decapping enzyme-like protein; RNI-like superfamily protein; Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 subunit H; Sterol 14-demethylase; ditrans, polycis-polyprenyl diphosphate synthase [(2E,6E)-farnesyldiphosphate specific]; 25.3 kDa vesicle transport protein SEC22-1 ; Protein HIGH CHLOROPHYLL FLUORESCENCE PHENOTYPE 173, chloroplastic; Protein NUCLEOLAR FACTOR 1 ; Protein TRIGALACTOSYLDIACYLGLYCEROL 1 , chloroplastic; Probable 3-beta-hydroxysteroid-Delta(8),Delta(7)-isomerase; Extensin-3; Tetratricopeptide repeat domain-containing protein PYG7, chloroplastic; THO complex subunit 2; Histidine biosynthesis bifunctional protein hislE, chloroplastic; Glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase, chloroplastic; tRNA-specific adenosine deaminase TAD2; Transcription factor bHLH95; FAD-linked sulfhydryl oxidase ERV1 ; Protein LHCP TRANSLOCATION DEFECT; Protein TRAUCO; Persulfide dioxygenase ETHE1 homolog, mitochondrial; Mediator of RNA polymerase II transcription subunit 13; Calpain-type cysteine protease DEK1 ; Probable WRKY transcription factor 10; Mitochondrial import inner membrane translocase subunit TIM50; EMB1303; 2-carboxy-1 ,4-naphthoquinone phytyltransferase, chloroplastic; UDP-N- acetylmuramoyl-L-alanyl-D-glutamate-2,6-diaminopimelate ligase MurE homolog, chloroplastic; 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate synthase, chloroplastic; Probable DNA primase large subunit; DNA polymerase alpha subunit B; Tubulin-folding cofactor E; Protein SLOW WALKER 2; phosphoribosylformylglycinamidine synthase, chloroplastic / mitochondrial; Vacuolar protein sorting-associated protein 45 homolog; Anaphase-promoting complex subunit 6; V-type proton ATPase catalytic subunit A; Peroxisome biogenesis protein 2; D-glycerate 3-kinase, chloroplastic; Sec-independent protein translocase protein TATC, chloroplastic; Nicotinatenucleotide pyrophosphorylase [carboxylating], chloroplastic; Pentatricopeptide repeat-containing protein At2g01860; 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate cytidylyltransferase, chloroplastic; Protein MATERNAL EFFECT EMBRYO ARREST 12; Signal peptide peptidase; Protein SHORT ROOT IN SALT MEDIUM 1 ; Ribonuclease E / G-like protein, chloroplastic; Anaphase-promoting complex subunit 2; Protein TIC 21 , chloroplastic; Pentatricopeptide repeat-containing protein At2g15820, chloroplastic; Protein NUCLEOLAR COMPLEX ASSOCIATED 4; Anaphasepromoting complexsubunit 10; Preprotein translocase subunit SCY1 , chloroplastic; Diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 1 ; Probable ATP synthase 24 kDa subunit, mitochondrial; Protein TIC236, chloroplastic; Peroxisome biogenesis factor 10; DnaJ homolog subfamily C GRV2; 4- diphosphocytidyl-2-C-methyl-D-erythritol kinase, chloroplastic; COP9 signalosome complex subunit 2; Structural maintenance of chromosomes protein 3; Transcription factor FER-LIKE IRON DEFICIENCY-INDUCED TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR; Outer envelope pore protein 16-1 , chloroplastic; Phosphomethylpyrimidine synthase, chloroplastic; Tubulin-folding cofactor A; Protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunit INH3; Condensin complex subunit 2; Small ribosomal subunit protein uS5c; 187-kDa microtubule-associated protein AIR9; Maternal effect embryo arrest 22; Protein MOR1 ; 1-(5-phosphoribosyl)-5-[(5-phosphoribosylamino)methylideneamino] imidazole-4-carboxamide isomerase, chloroplastic; Origin of replication complex subunit 2; Protein VACUOLELESS1 ; AMP deaminase; Ethanolamine-phosphate cytidylyltransferase; P- loop containing nucleoside triphosphate hydrolases superfamily protein; Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 subunit F; Biotin synthase, mitochondrial; Nuclear pore complex protein NUP62; Probable tRNA N6-adenosine threonylcarbamoyltransferase, mitochondrial; Peroxisome biogenesis protein 16; Protein SLOW WALKER 1 ; Protein PALE CRESS, chloroplastic; Protein TPLATE; Tyrosine-tRNA ligase, chloroplastic / mitochondrial; Peroxisome biogenesis protein 12; Protein EMBRYO DEFECTIVE 2016; Bifunctional 3-dehydroquinate dehydratase / shikimate dehydrogenase, chloroplastic; Thioredoxin-like protein CITRX, chloroplastic; Protein Embryo Defective 1974; Protein TAB2 homolog, chloroplastic; DnaJ protein ERDJ3A; Tubulin-folding cofactor B; Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase SDP6, mitochondrial; Exocyst complex component SEC8; ABC transporter I family member 6, chloroplastic; DNA gyrase subunit A, chloroplastic / mitochondrial; Retinoblastoma-related protein 1 ; Protein FLUORESCENT IN BLUE LIGHT, chloroplastic; Pectinesterase; COMPLEX 1 LYR-like protein; Protein disulfide-isomerase SCO2; Titan9; Ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase 14; Polycomb group protein FERTILIZATION-INDEPENDENT ENDOSPERM; DNA topoisomerase 6 subunit B; Protein BLISTER; tRNA(lle)-lysidine synthetase; Probable inactive shikimate kinase like 1 , chloroplastic; Protein RST1 ; Protein THYLAKOID ASSEMBLY 8, chloroplastic; LOB domain-containing protein 27; Glycine-tRNA ligase, chloroplastic / mitochondrial 2; PGG domain-containing protein; Protein PLASTID TRANSCRIPTIONALLY ACTIVE 10; Ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase 26; Uracil phosphoribosyltransferase, chloroplastic; FKBP12-interacting protein of 37 kDa; F-box / LRR- repeat protein 17; Probable arabinose 5-phosphate isomerase; Phosphoribosylformylglycinamidine cyclo-ligase, chloroplastic; AP3-complex subunit beta-A; Glycosylinositol phosphorylceramide mannosyl transferase 1 ; H / ACA ribonucleoprotein complex subunit 4; SUMO-conjugating enzyme SCE1 ; Tubulin-folding cofactor D; COP9 signalosome complex subunit 1 ; Beclin-1 -like protein; 2-methyl-6-phytyl-1 ,4-hydroquinone methyltransferase, chloroplastic; DAR GTPase 3, chloroplastic; Auxin-binding protein 1 ; Frataxin, mitochondrial; Leucine-tRNA ligase, chloroplastic / mitochondrial; Mediator of RNA polymerase II transcription subunit 21 ; N6-adenosine-methyltransferase non-catalytic subunit MTB; N6-adenosine- methyltransferase MT-A70-like; Protein HAPLESS 2; COP9 signalosome complex subunit 8; Preprotein translocase subunit SECE1 ; Guanine nucleotide exchange factor SPIKE 1 ; Vacuolar protein sorting-associated protein 54, chloroplastic; ARM repeat superfamily protein; GPN-loop GTPase QQT2; Ubiquinol oxidase 4, chloroplastic / chromoplastic; Glutamate-cysteine ligase, chloroplastic; Magnesium protoporphyrin IX methyltransferase, chloroplastic; SufE-like protein 1 , chloroplastic / mitochondrial; Imidazole glycerol phosphate synthase hisHF, chloroplastic; PfkB- like carbohydrate kinase family protein; Protein Embryo Defective 1923; Cyclin-dependent kinase F-1 ; Polyprotein of EF-Ts, chloroplastic; Protein DECREASED SIZE EXCLUSION LIMIT 1 ; 1- acyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase LPAT1 , chloroplastic; Large ribosomal subunit protein bL21 m; DDB1- and CUL4-associated factor homolog 1 ; Protein CHROMOSOME TRANSMISSION FIDELITY 7; High chlorophyll fluorescence 153; Lariat debranching enzyme; Aminopeptidase M1 ; Thioredoxin-like protein HCF164, chloroplastic; Transcription termination factor MTERF6, chloroplastic / mitochondrial; Bifunctional phosphatase IMPL2, chloroplastic; Tubulin-folding cofactor C; Ribonuclease II, chloroplastic / mitochondrial; Nuclear pore complex protein NUP88; Protein NEDD1 ; Agmatine deiminase; Very-long-chain (3R)-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydratase PASTICCINO 2; Trafficking protein particle complex Il-specific subunit 120 homolog; Thylakoid membrane protein TERC, chloroplastic; Flowering time control protein FY; mRNA- decapping enzyme subunit 2; Alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase; COP9 signalosome complex subunit 3; Small ribosomal subunit protein uS13c; Pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase; Sister chromatid cohesion protein SCC2; Structural maintenance of chromosomes protein 5; Protein TIC 40, chloroplastic; Protein TORMOZ EMBRYO DEFECTIVE; SART-1 family protein DOT2; Anthranilate phosphoribosyltransferase, chloroplastic; Probable serine / threonine-protein phosphatase 2A regulatory subunit B" subunit TON2; Non-structural maintenance of chromosomes element 1 homolog; Replication factor C subunit 1 ; DNA polymerase epsilon subunit B; GPI mannosyltransferase 1 ; Protein TIC 100; Photosystem II stability / assembly factor HCF136, chloroplastic; tRNA-specific adenosine deaminase TAD3; Glutathione synthetase, chloroplastic; Sm-like protein LSM4; Replication factor C subunit 3; Protein EMBRYO DEFECTIVE 2656; Dihydrofolate synthetase; COP9 signalosome complex subunit 4; Protein XRI1 ; Pantoate-beta-alanine ligase; Pseudouridine synthase; Chromophore lyase CRL, chloroplastic; Conserved oligomeric Golgi complex subunit 7; UDP-sugar pyrophosphorylase; Protein Embryo defective 2737; Trafficking protein particle complex Il-specific subunit 130 homolog; Thiamine thiazole synthase, chloroplastic; Nicotinamide / nicotinic acid mononucleotide adenylyltransferase; Peroxisome biogenesis protein 5; Zinc finger CCCH domain-containing protein 65; Glycylpeptide N-tetradecanoyltransferase 1 ; Bifunctional dethiobiotin synthetase / 7,8- diamino-pelargonic acid aminotransferase, mitochondrial; WUSCHEL-related homeobox 2; Thymidylate kinase; Probable pyridoxal 5'-phosphate synthase subunit PDX2; Protein EMBRYO DEFECTIVE 514; 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase, chloroplastic; Peroxisomal membrane protein PEX14; Protein Embryo defective 2759; Ribonuclease J; Histidinol dehydrogenase, chloroplastic; Glutamate-tRNA ligase, chloroplastic / mitochondrial; and Dolichyl- diphosphooligosaccharide-protein glycosyltransferase 48 kDa subunit, Chlorophyll a / b binding protein (CAP10A), Chlorophyll a / b binding protein 36 (CAB36, Chlorophyll a / b binding protein 7 (LHCB7), Chlorophyll a / b binding protein (CAB7), Chlorophyll a / b binding protein (AB80), or their corresponding mRNA.

[0096] In a preferred embodiment, the target gene or mRNA comprises any one sequence selected from: • a target TSS comprising a sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 303-317, • a target mRNA comprising a sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 318-332, or

[0097] • a target mRNA comprising a sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 333-347.

[0098] A PNA of the first or second aspect of the invention may be obtained by methods well known by a person skilled in the art. For example, by any one of the methods disclosed in Nielsen 2004, 16; Pentelute 2022, 9; Ly 2006, 10; Engelmann 2010, 6; Ly 2011 , 35; Nielsen 2011 , 10; Franzyk 2019, 32; or ; Messere 2023, 10.

[0099] Preferably, the PNA of the first or second aspect of the invention may be synthesized by one-pot automated synthesis, ultrasound assisted automated synthesis, semi-automated synthesis, manual synthesis. In a preferred embodiment, the PNAs of the first aspect of the invention are synthesized by one-pot synthesis.

[0100] Although the PNAs of the first or second aspect of the invention have an herbicidal effect on their own, it is common to incorporate other elements that help the PNAs penetrate into a cell and determine its subcellular location. Accordingly, often the PNAs can be fused or linked to other compounds, e.g. proteins or lipids, which enable or enhance their ability to enter a plant cell and better direct these towards their targets.

[0101] Thus, it is a third aspect of the present invention to provide an herbicidal peptide construct comprising a PNA of the first or second aspect of the invention that is fused or linked to

[0102] • a cell-penetrating peptide (CPP), or

[0103] • a location signal peptide (LSP), wherein the CPP or the LSP is fused or linked to the N-terminus or the C-terminus of the PNA.

[0104] Thus, the herbicidal peptide construct, wheren the CPP and PNA, or the LSP and PNA are contiguously linked or fused to each other in the following arrangement, read from N-terminus to C-terminus:

[0105] • CPP-PNA

[0106] • PNA-CPP

[0107] • LSP-PNA

[0108] • PNA-LSP

[0109] In an embodiment, the herbicidal peptide construct of the third aspect further comprises at least one linker linking the PNA, CPP or LSP. In an embodiment the herbicidal comprises a single linker, as shown in the following arrangement, read from N-terminal to C-terminal:

[0110] CPP-Linker-PNA

[0111] PNA-Linker-CPP

[0112] LSP-Linker-PNA PNA-Linker-LSP

[0113] In another embodiment, the herbicidal peptide construct comprises a PNA of the first aspect of the invention fused or linked to

[0114] • a cell-penetrating peptide (CPP), and

[0115] • a location signal peptide (LSP), wherein the PNA, CPP and LSP are contiguously linked or fused to each other.

[0116] Thus, the herbicidal peptide construct of the third aspect may comprise the PNA, CPP and LSP contiguously linked or fused to each other in the following arrangement, read from N-terminus to C-terminus:

[0117] • CPP-PNA-LSP

[0118] • CPP-LSP-PNA

[0119] • LSP-PNA-CPP

[0120] • LSP-CPP-PNA

[0121] • PNA-CPP-LSP

[0122] In an embodiment, the herbicidal peptide construct of the third aspect further comprises at least one linker linking the PNA, CPP and / or LSP. In an embodiment the herbicidal comprises a single linker, or a first and a second linker as shown in any one of the following arrangement, read from N-terminal to C-terminal:

[0123] • CPP-Linker-PNA-LSP

[0124] • CPP-Linker-LSP-PNA

[0125] • LSP-Linker-PNA-CPP

[0126] • LSP-Linker-CPP-PNA

[0127] • PNA-Linker-CPP-LSP

[0128] • PNA-Linker-LSP-CPP

[0129] • CPP-PNA-Linker-LSP

[0130] • CPP-LSP-Linker-PNA

[0131] • LSP-PNA-Linker-CPP

[0132] • LSP-CPP-Linker-PNA

[0133] • PNA-CPP-Linker-LSP

[0134] • PNA-LSP-Linker-CPP

[0135] • CPP-Linker1-PNA-Linker2-LSP

[0136] • CPP-Linker1-LSP-Linker2-PNA

[0137] • LSP-Linker1-PNA-Linker2-CPP

[0138] • LSP-Linker1-CPP-Linker2-PNA

[0139] • PNA-Linker1-CPP-Linker2-LSP

[0140] • PNA-Linker1-LSP-Linker2-CPP In an embodiment, the at least one linker comprises any one sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 275-282, ora disulfide bridge. In an embodiment, the first linker comprises any one sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 275-282, or a disulfide bridge, and the second linker comprises any one sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 275-282, or a disulfide bridge. In an embodiment, the first linker (Linkerl) and second linker (Linker2), are the same molecule. In an embodiment, the linker sequence further comprises a cleavage sequence of SEQ ID NO: 283-296.

[0141] In an embodiment, the herbicidal peptide construct comprises a PNA having any one of the sequences of SEQ ID NO: 1-165. Preferably, the herbicidal peptide construct comprises a PNA consisting of any one of the sequences of SEQ ID NO: 1-165.

[0142] In an embodiment, the peptide construct comprises a location signal peptide (LSP), linked to the N-terminus or C-terminus of the PNA. Preferably, the peptide construct comprises a nuclear localization signal peptide (NLSP). Preferably, the LSP comprises an amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 228-274. More preferably, the LSP consists of an amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 228-274.

[0143] In an embodiment, the peptide construct of the third aspect of the invention further comprises

[0144] • a linker sequence that links the PNA and the CPP, wherein said linker sequence comprises a sequence SEQ ID NO: 275-282; or

[0145] • a linker sequence that links the PNA and the LSP, wherein said linker sequence comprises a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 275-282.

[0146] In an embodiment, the peptide construct of the third aspect of the invention comprises

[0147] • a linker sequence that links the PNA and the CPP, wherein said linker sequence comprises a (EAAAK)Xor (GGGS)X, wherein X is 1-5; or PAPAP or PAPAPAPAPAP.

[0148] • a linker sequence that links the PNA and the LSP, wherein said linker sequence comprises a sequence of (EAAAK)Xor (GGGS)X, wherein X is 1-5; or PAPAP or PAPAPAPAPAP.

[0149] Preferably, the peptide construct of the third aspect of the invention comprises a CPP that enables or enhances the penetration of the PNA into a plant cell of a plant of a genus selected from Abutilon spp., Acanthospermum spp., Acicarpha spp., Aeschynomene spp., Agrosthemna spp., Alopecurus spp., , Alternanthera spp., Amaranthus spp., Ambrosia spp., Ammi spp., Anoda spp., Anthemis spp., Artemisia spp., Avena spp., AzoIla spp., Baccharis spp., Bassia spp., Beckmannia spp., Bidens spp., , Bowlesia spp., Bromus spp., Capsella spp., Carduus spp., Centaurea spp., Oestrum spp., Chenopodium spp., Chloris spp., Chondrilla spp., Cirsium spp., Commelina spp., Convolvulus spp., Conyza spp., Cucumis spp., Cucurbita spp., Cynara spp., Cynodon spp., Cyperus spp., Datura spp., Daucus spp., Digitaria spp., Diplotaxis spp., Distichlis spp., Dysphania spp., Echinochloa spp., Echinodorus spp., Echium spp., Ehrharta spp., Eleocharis spp., Eleusine spp., Eragrostis spp., Erodium spp, Eryngium spp., Euphorbia spp., Flaveria spp., Fumaria spp., Galinsoga spp., Galium spp., Gnaphalium spp., Gomphrena spp., Hirschfeldia spp., Hybanthus spp., Hymenachne spp., Hypochaeris spp., Hypochaeris spp., Ibicella spp., Ipomoea spp., Iresine spp., Juncus spp., Lactuca spp., Lamium spp., Lepidium spp., Leptochloa spp., Limnobium spp., Lolium spp., Ludwigia spp., Luziola spp., Lysimachia spp., Malvastrum spp., Matricaria spp., Nicotiana spp., Nymphoides spp., Onopordum spp., Panicum spp., Parietaria spp., Pascalia spp., Paspalum spp., Petunia spp., Physalis spp., Plantago spp., Pluchea spp., Polygonum spp., Pontederia spp., Portulaca spp., Raphanus spp., Rapistrum spp., Richardia spp. Rumex spp., Sagittaria spp., Salsola spp., Schkuhria spp., Scirpus spp., Sesbania spp., Setaria spp., Sida spp., Silene spp., Sisymbrium spp., Solanum spp., Solidago spp., Sonchus spp., Sorghum spp., Steinchisma spp., Stellaria spp., Stipa spp., Tagetes spp., Taraxacum spp., Thalia spp., Tribulus spp., Urochloa spp, Verbena spp., Verbesina spp., Veronica spp., Vicia spp., Viola spp., and Xanthium spp.

[0150] More preferably, the CPP enables or enhances the penetration of the PNA into a plant cell of a plant selected from Alopecurus aequalis, Alopecurus myosuroides, Alopecurus geniculatus, Abutilon theophrasti, Acanthospermum hispidum, Acicarpha tribuloides, Aeschynomene denticulata, Aeschynomene rudis, Agrosthemna githago, Alopecurus myosuroides, Alternanthera kurtzii, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Amaranthus albus, Amaranthus deflexus, Amaranthus spinosus, Amaranthus viridis, Amaranthus hybridus, Amarathus palmer!, Amaranthus retroflexus, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Ammannia auriculata, Ammi majus, Anoda cristata, Anthemis cotula, Artemisia verlotiorum, Avena barbata, Avena fatua, AzoIla filiculoides, Baccharis ulicina, Bassia scoparia, Beckmannia syzigachne, Bidens subalternans, Bowlesia incana, Brassica napus, Brassica rapa, Bromus catharticus, Capsella bursa pastoris, Carduus acanthoides, Cardus thoermeri, Centaurea solstitialis, Oestrum parqui, Chenopodium album, Chloris virgata, Chondrilla juncea, Cirsium vulgare, Commelina difusa, Convolvulus arvensis, Conyza bonariensis, Conyza canadiensis, Conyza sumatrensis, Cucumis anguria, Cucurbita maxima ssp. andreana, Cynara cardunculus, Cynodon hirsutus, Cyperus aggregatus, Cyperus corymbosus var. subnodosus, Cyperus difformis, Cyperus esculentus, Cyperus iria, Cyperus luzulae, Cyperus odoratus, Cyperus pohlii, Cyperus rotundus, Datura ferox, Daucus pusillus, Digitaria insularis, Digitaria sanguinalis, Diplotaxis tenuifolia, Distichlis scoparia, Dysphania pumilio, Echinochloa chacoensis, Echinochloa colona, Echinochloa crusgalli, Echinochloa oryzoides, Echinodorus grandiflorus, Echium plantagineum, Ehrharta longiflora, Eleocharis bonariensis, Eleocharis haumaniana, Eleusine indica, Eleusine tristachya, Eragrostis curvula, Erodium cicutarium, Eryngium ebumeum, Euphorbia papillosa, Euphorbia serpens, Flaveria bidentis, Fumaria officinalis, Galinsoga parviflora, Galium aparine, Gnaphalium gaudichaudianum, Gomphrena celosioides, Hirschfeldia incana, Hybanthus parviflorus, Hymenachne amplexicaulis, Hypochaeris chilensis, Hypochaeris radicata, Ibicella lutea, Ipomoea cordatotriloba, Ipomoea grandifolia, Ipomoea nil, Ipomoea purpurea, Iresine diffusa, Juncus imbricatus, Juncus microcephalus, Lactuca serriola, Lamium amplexicaule, Lepidium bonariense, Leptochloa chinensis, Limnobium laevigatum, Lolium multiflorum, Lolium perenne, Lolium rigidum, Ludwigia bonariensis, Ludwigia peploides, Luziola peruviana, Lysimachia arvensis, Malvastrum coromandelianum, Matricaria chamomilla, Nicotiana longi flora, Nicotiana noctiflora, Nymphoides indica, Onopordum acanthium, Panicum dichotomiflorum, Panicum urvilleanum, Parietaria debilis, Pascalia glauca, Paspalum dilatatum, Paspalum distichum, Paspalum modestum, Paspalum repens, Petunia axillaris, Physalis angulata, Physalis viscosa, Plantago lanceolata, Pluchea sagittalis, Polygonum acuminatum, Polygonum aviculare, Polygonum convolvulus, Polygonum hydropiperoides, Polygonum lapathifolium, Polygonum persicaria, Pontederia azurea, Portulaca oleracea, Raphanus sativus, Rapistrum rugosum, Richardia brasiliensis, Richardia stellaris, Rumex crispus, Sagittaria montevidensis, Sagittaria trifolia, Salsola kali, Salsola tragus, Schkuhria pinnata, Scirpus juncoides, Sesbania virgata, Setaria parviflora, Setaria pumila, Setaria verticillata, Setaria viridis, Sida rhombifolia, Sida spinosa, Silene gallica, Sisymbrium irio, Sisymbrium officinale, Sisymbrium chilense, Solanum angustifolium, Solanum elaeagnifolium, Solanum sisymbriifolium, Solidago chilensis, Sonchus oleraceus, Sorghum halepense, Steinchisma hians, Stellaria media, Stipa brachychaeta, Tagetes minuta, Taraxacum officinale, Thalia multiflora, Tribulus terrestris, Urochloa platyphylla, Urochloa panicoides, Verbena litoralis, Verbesina encelioides, Veronica persica, Vicia graminea, Viola arvensis, Xanthium spinosum, and Xanthium strumarium.

[0151] In an embodiment, the peptide construct of the third aspect of the invention further comprises a cleavage sequence of SEQ ID NO: 283-296. Preferably, the cleavage sequence is located next to a CPP, next to a LSP, or both. In an embodiment, the cleavage sequence is located between the CPP and the PNA, between the LSP and a PNA, or both.

[0152] In an embodiment, the peptide construct ofthe second aspect of the present invention comprises a sequence that functions both as a linker and a cleavage site. Preferably, said sequence is located between the cell-penetrating peptide and the PNA, between the LSP and the PNA, or both.

[0153] In an embodiment, the peptide construct of the third aspect may further comprise a moiety that can be used as a reporter for specific purposes, for example, for revealing the proper introduction of a PNA into a target cell, its binding to a target gene, suppression of the expression of a target gene. Such reporter moieties are well known in the art and are readily available for a person skilled in the art. Examples of reporter moieties include, but are not limited to, fluorescent probes (fluorescein, rhodamine, cyanine dyes, FAM, ROX, HEX, Alexa fluorophores, dansyl dyes, BODIPY), peptide tags (His-tag, Strep-tag, FLAG-tag, HA-tag, Myc-tag, Spy-tag, S-tag), and other small molecule tags (biotin, digoxigenin, dinitrophenol). In a preferred embodiment, the herbicidal peptide construct of the third aspect of the invention consists of an herbicidal Peptide Assisted Nucleic Analog (PANA), comprising a PNA of the first or second aspect of the invention fused or linked to

[0154] • a cell-penetrating peptide (CPP), and / or

[0155] • a location signal peptide (LSP), wherein the CPP is fused or linked to the N-terminus or C-terminus of the PNA, and wherein the LSP is fused or linked to the N-terminus or C-terminus of the PNA, or to the free end of the CPP-PNA molecule.

[0156] In an embodiment, the herbicidal PANA comprises a PNA having any one of the sequences of SEQ ID NO: 1-165.

[0157] In an embodiment, the herbicidal PANA comprises a LSP, wherein the said LSP is linked to the N-terminus or C-terminus of the PNA. Preferably, the peptide construct comprises a nuclear localization signal peptide (NLSP). Preferably, the LSP comprises an amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 228-274. More preferably, the LSP consists of an amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 228-274.

[0158] In an embodiment, the herbicidal PANA further comprises

[0159] • a linker sequence that links the PNA and the CPP, wherein said linker sequence comprises a (EAAAK)Xor (GGGS)X, wherein X is 1-5; or PAPAP or PAPAPAPAPAP, or

[0160] • a linker sequence that links the PNA and the location signal peptide, wherein said linker sequence comprises a sequence of (EAAAK)Xor (GGGS)X, wherein X is 1-5; or PAPAP or PAPAPAPAPAP.

[0161] In an embodiment, the herbicidal PANA further comprises a linker sequence that links the PNA and the CPP, wherein said linker sequence comprises a sequence SEQ ID NO: 275-282, or a linker sequence that links the PNA and the LSP, wherein said linker sequence comprises a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 275-282.

[0162] In an embodiment, the herbicidal PANA further comprises a linker sequence that links the PNA and the CPP, wherein said linker sequence comprises a sequence SEQ ID NO: 275-282, and

[0163] • a linker sequence that links the PNA and the location signal peptide, wherein said linker sequence comprises a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 275-282.

[0164] In an embodiment, the herbicidal PANA comprises a sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 166-213. Preferably, the herbicidal Peptide Assisted Nucleic Analog consists of any one sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 166-213. Preferably, the herbicidal PANA comprises a CPP that enables or enhances the penetration of the PNA into a plant cell of a plant of a genus selected from Abutilon spp., Acanthospermum spp., Acicarpha spp., Aeschynomene spp., Agrosthemna spp., Alopecurus spp., , Alternanthera spp., Amaranthus spp., Ambrosia spp., Ammi spp., Anoda spp., Anthemis spp., Artemisia spp., Avena spp., AzoIla spp., Baccharis spp., Bassia spp., Beckmannia spp., Bidens spp., , Bowlesia spp., Bromus spp., Capsella spp., Carduus spp., Centaurea spp., Oestrum spp., Chenopodium spp., Chloris spp., Chondrilla spp., Cirsium spp., Commelina spp., Convolvulus spp., Conyza spp., Cucumis spp., Cucurbita spp., Cynara spp., Cynodon spp., Cyperus spp., Datura spp., Daucus spp., Digitaria spp., Diplotaxis spp., Distichlis spp., Dysphania spp., Echinochloa spp., Echinodorus spp., Echium spp., Ehrharta spp., Eleocharis spp., Eleusine spp., Eragrostis spp., Erodium spp, Eryngium spp., Euphorbia spp., Flaveria spp., Fumaria spp., Galinsoga spp., Galium spp., Gnaphalium spp., Gomphrena spp., Hirschfeldia spp., Hybanthus spp., Hymenachne spp., Hypochaeris spp., Hypochaeris spp., Ibicella spp., Ipomoea spp., Iresine spp., Juncus spp., Lactuca spp., Lamium spp., Lepidium spp., Leptochloa spp., Limnobium spp., Lolium spp., Ludwigia spp., Luziola spp., Lysimachia spp., Malvastrum spp., Matricaria spp., Nicotiana spp., Nymphoides spp., Onopordum spp., Panicum spp., Parietaria spp., Pascalia spp., Paspalum spp., Petunia spp., Physalis spp., Plantago spp., Pluchea spp., Polygonum spp., Pontederia spp., Portulaca spp., Raphanus spp., Rapistrum spp., Richardia spp. Rumex spp., Sagittaria spp., Salsola spp., Schkuhria spp., Scirpus spp., Sesbania spp., Setaria spp., Sida spp., Silene spp., Sisymbrium spp., Solanum spp., Solidago spp., Sonchus spp., Sorghum spp., Steinchisma spp., Stellaria spp., Stipa spp., Tagetes spp., Taraxacum spp., Thalia spp., Tribulus spp., Urochloa spp, Verbena spp., Verbesina spp., Veronica spp., Vicia spp., Viola spp., and Xanthium spp.

[0165] More preferably, enables or enhances the penetration of the PNA into a plant cell of a plant selected from Alopecurus aequalis, Alopecurus myosuroides, Alopecurus geniculatus, Abutilon theophrasti, Acanthospermum hispidum, Acicarpha tribuloides, Aeschynomene denticulata, Aeschynomene rudis, Agrosthemna githago, Alopecurus myosuroides, Alternanthera kurtzii, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Amaranthus albus, Amaranthus deflexus, Amaranthus spinosus, Amaranthus viridis, Amaranthus hybridus, Amarathus palmeri, Amaranthus retroflexus, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Ammannia auriculata, Ammi majus, Anoda cristata, Anthemis cotula, Artemisia verlotiorum, Avena barbata, Avena fatua, AzoIla filiculoides, Baccharis ulicina, Bassia scoparia, Beckmannia syzigachne, Bidens subalternans, Bowlesia incana, Brassica napus, Brassica rapa, Bromus catharticus, Capsella bursa pastoris, Carduus acanthoides, Cardus thoermeri, Centaurea solstitialis, Cestrum parqui, Chenopodium album, Chloris virgata, Chondrilla juncea, Cirsium vulgare, Commelina difusa, Convolvulus arvensis, Conyza bonariensis, Conyza canadiensis, Conyza sumatrensis, Cucumis anguria, Cucurbita maxima ssp. andreana, Cynara cardunculus, Cynodon hirsutus, Cyperus aggregatus, Cyperus corymbosus var. subnodosus, Cyperus difformis, Cyperus esculentus, Cyperus iria, Cyperus luzulae, Cyperus odoratus, Cyperus pohlii, Cyperus rotundus, Datura ferox, Daucus pusillus, Digitaria insularis, Digitaria sanguinalis, Diplotaxis tenuifolia, Distichlis scoparia, Dysphania pumilio, Echinochloa chacoensis, Echinochloa colona, Echinochloa crusgalli, Echinochloa oryzoides, Echinodorus grandiflorus, Echium plantagineum, Ehrharta longiflora, Eleocharis bonariensis, Eleocharis haumaniana, Eleusine indica, Eleusine tristachya, Eragrostis curvula, Erodium cicutarium, Eryngium eburneum, Euphorbia papillosa, Euphorbia serpens, Flaveria bidentis, Fumaria officinalis, Galinsoga parviflora, Galium aparine, Gnaphalium gaudichaudianum, Gomphrena celosioides, Hirschfeldia incana, Hybanthus parviflorus, Hymenachne amplexicaulis, Hypochaeris chilensis, Hypochaeris radicata, Ibicella lutea, Ipomoea cordatotriloba, Ipomoea grandifolia, Ipomoea nil, Ipomoea purpurea, Iresine diffusa, Juncus imbricatus, Juncus microcephalus, Lactuca serriola, Lamium amplexicaule, Lepidium bonariense, Leptochloa chinensis, Limnobium laevigatum, Lolium multiflorum, Lolium perenne, Lolium rigidum, Ludwigia bonariensis, Ludwigia peploides, Luziola peruviana, Lysimachia arvensis, Malvastrum coromandelianum, Matricaria chamomilla, Nicotiana longiflora, Nicotiana noctiflora, Nymphoides indica, Onopordum acanthium, Panicum dichotomiflorum, Panicum urvilleanum, Parietaria debilis, Pascalia glauca, Paspalum dilatatum, Paspalum distichum, Paspalum modestum, Paspalum repens, Petunia axillaris, Physalis angulata, Physalis viscosa, Plantago lanceolata, Pluchea sagittalis, Polygonum acuminatum, Polygonum aviculare, Polygonum convolvulus, Polygonum hydropiperoides, Polygonum lapathifolium, Polygonum persicaria, Pontederia azurea, Portulaca oleracea, Raphanus sativus, Rapistrum rugosum, Richardia brasiliensis, Richardia stellaris, Rumex crispus, Sagittaria montevidensis, Sagittaria trifolia, Salsola kali, Salsola tragus, Schkuhria pinnata, Scirpus juncoides, Sesbania virgata, Setaria parviflora, Setaria pumila, Setaria verticillata, Setaria viridis, Sida rhombifolia, Sida spinosa, Silene gallica, Sisymbrium irio, Sisymbrium officinale, Sisymbrium chilense, Solanum angustifolium, Solanum elaeagnifolium, Solanum sisymbriifolium, Solidago chilensis, Sonchus oleraceus, Sorghum halepense, Steinchisma hians, Stellaria media, Stipa brachychaeta, Tagetes minuta, Taraxacum officinale, Thalia multiflora, Tribulus terrestris, Urochloa platyphylla, Urochloa panicoides, Verbena litoralis, Verbesina encelioides, Veronica persica, Vicia graminea, Viola arvensis, Xanthium spinosum, and Xanthium strumarium.

[0166] In an embodiment, the herbicidal PANA further comprises a cleavage sequence of SEQ ID NO: 283-296. Preferably, the cleavage sequence is located next to a CPP next to a LSP, or both. In an embodiment, the cleavage sequence is located between a CPP and a PNA, between a LSP and a PNA, or both.

[0167] In an embodiment, the PANA further comprises a sequence that functions both as a linker and a cleavage site. Preferably, said sequence is located between the CPP and the PNA, between the LSP and the PNA, or both. Alternatively, a person skilled in the art would be able to select an appropriate cleavage sequence such that it allows forthe cleavage ofthe peptide construct without interfering with the herbicidal effect of the peptide construct or the herbicidal PNA composed by said peptide construct.

[0168] A peptide construct of the third aspect of the invention may be obtained by methods well known by a person skilled in the art. Preferably, the peptide construct of the third aspect may be synthesized by automated synthesis, two-pot automated synthesis using click chemistry for the attachment of the carrier system with the PNA, ultrasound assisted automated synthesis, semiautomated synthesis, manual synthesis.

[0169] The proper application of an herbicidal peptide construct of the third aspect can be performed by incorporating said peptide construct in a medium or carrier designed for the effective delivery of the peptide construct into a plant, preferably a pest plant.

[0170] Thus, it is a fourth aspect of the invention to provide an herbicidal composition comprising at least one peptide construct of the third aspect of the invention, and at least one agronomically suitable adjuvant.

[0171] As used herein, the term “agronomically suitable adjuvant” refers to any compound which can be incorporated into a formulation in such a way that allows or improves the effective application of a peptide construct of the present invention to a plant, preferably a pest plant.

[0172] In an embodiment, the composition of the fourth aspect of the invention comprises 0.01-500 pM of at least one herbicidal peptide construct of the third aspect. Preferably, the composition comprises between 0.1-100 pM of the at least one herbicidal peptide construct, more preferably between 0.5-50 pM of the at least one herbicidal peptide construct.

[0173] In a preferred embodiment, the herbicide composition of the fourth aspect of the invention comprises at least one agronomically suitable adjuvant selected from surfactants, polar or nonpolar solvents, pH adjusters, antioxidants, preservatives, adhesives, wetting agents, stabilizers, propellants, chelating agents, and / or dispersant agents, among others.

[0174] In an embodiment, the herbicide composition comprises, more preferably contains, at least one compound selected from

[0175] • a Lipidic system selected from any one of C12-200, CKK-E12, DLin-KC2-DMA, DLin- MC3-DMA, 1-2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSCP), cholesterol, PEG-2000- C-DMG, PEG-2000-DMG, DOTMA, DOTAP, H / SM-102, and ALC-0315;

[0176] • a Polymeric system selected from any one of Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)(PLGA), Polyethylenimine (PEI), Poly(L-lysine)(PLL), Poly(betaamino ester)s (PBAEs), Hyperbranched PBAE (hPBAE), and Charge-altering releasable transporter (CART), Poly(amidoamine)(PAMAM);

[0177] • a Lipid-polymer hybrid system selected from any one of PEG-DMPE, DSPE-PEG-NH2, DSPE-PEG-SH, and

[0178] • an Inorganic system selected from any one of gold nanoparticles, Iron oxide nanoparticles, Calcium phosphate nanoparticles, Mesoporous silica nanoparticles, Chitosan nanoparticles, and layered double-hydroxide clay nanosheets (LDH).

[0179] The herbicide composition of the fourth aspect may be formulated as a liquid and / or solid composition. Liquid compositions include emulsions, microemulsions, solutions, suspensions, flowable concentrates, emulsifiable concentrates, gels and the like. Solid compositions include powders, granules, tablets, pellets, pills, pastilles, and the like. The composition may be formulated as a sprayable composition, meaning a composition prepared for immediate spraying through various methods. Alternatively, the formulation can be easily diluted in an adequate polar or non-polar solvent before spraying.

[0180] In an embodiment, the herbicide composition of the fourth aspect of the invention may be applied to a plant or plant part, wherein said plant part comprises the surfaces of any said plant part including leaves, stems, seeds, flowers, tubers, roots, or combinations thereof, preferably the leaves of a plant. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the herbicide composition of the third aspect of the invention is applied to the leaves of a plant by foliar application.

[0181] Preferably, the herbicidal composition may be applied to a plant of a genus selected from Abutilon spp., Acanthospermum spp., Acicarpha spp., Aeschynomene spp., Agrosthemna spp., Alopecurus spp., , Alternanthera spp., Amaranthus spp., Ambrosia spp., Ammi spp., Anoda spp., Anthemis spp., Artemisia spp., Avena spp., AzoIla spp., Baccharis spp., Bassia spp., Beckmannia spp., Bidens spp., , Bowlesia spp., Bromus spp., Capsella spp., Carduus spp., Centaurea spp., Oestrum spp., Chenopodium spp., Chloris spp., Chondrilla spp., Cirsium spp., Commelina spp., Convolvulus spp., Conyza spp., Cucumis spp., Cucurbita spp., Cynara spp., Cynodon spp., Cyperus spp., Datura spp., Daucus spp., Digitaria spp., Diplotaxis spp., Distichlis spp., Dysphania spp., Echinochloa spp., Echinodorus spp., Echium spp., Ehrharta spp., Eleocharis spp., Eleusine spp., Eragrostis spp., Erodium spp, Eryngium spp., Euphorbia spp., Flaveria spp., Fumaria spp., Galinsoga spp., Galium spp., Gnaphalium spp., Gomphrena spp., Hirschfeldia spp., Hybanthus spp., Hymenachne spp., Hypochaeris spp., Hypochaeris spp., Ibicella spp., Ipomoea spp., Iresine spp., Juncus spp., Lactuca spp., Lamium spp., Lepidium spp., Leptochloa spp., Limnobium spp., Lolium spp., Ludwigia spp., Luziola spp., Lysimachia spp., Malvastrum spp., Matricaria spp., Nicotiana spp., Nymphoides spp., Onopordum spp., Panicum spp., Parietaria spp., Pascalia spp., Paspalum spp., Petunia spp., Physalis spp., Plantago spp., Pluchea spp., Polygonum spp., Pontederia spp., Portulaca spp., Raphanus spp., Rapistrum spp., Richardia spp. Rumex spp., Sagittaria spp., Salsola spp., Schkuhria spp., Scirpus spp., Sesbania spp., Setaria spp., Sida spp., Silene spp., Sisymbrium spp., Solarium spp., Solidago spp., Sonchus spp., Sorghum spp., Steinchisma spp., Stellaria spp., Stipa spp., Tagetes spp., Taraxacum spp., Thalia spp., Tribulus spp., Urochloa spp, Verbena spp., Verbesina spp., Veronica spp., Vicia spp., Viola spp., and Xanthium spp.

[0182] More preferably, to a pest plant selected from Alopecurus aequalis, Alopecurus myosuroides, Alopecurus geniculatus, Abutilon theophrasti, Acanthospermum hispidum, Acicarpha tribuloides, Aeschynomene denticulata, Aeschynomene rudis, Agrosthemna githago, Alopecurus myosuroides, Alternanthera kurtzii, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Amaranthus albus, Amaranthus deflexus, Amaranthus spinosus, Amaranthus viridis, Amaranthus hybridus, Amarathus palmeri, Amaranthus retroflexus, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Ammannia auriculata, Ammi majus, Anoda cristata, Anthemis cotula, Artemisia verlotiorum, Avena barbata, Avena fatua, AzoIla filiculoides, Baccharis ulicina, Bassia scoparia, Beckmannia syzigachne, Bidens subalternans, Bowlesia incana, Brassica napus, Brassica rapa, Bromus catharticus, Capsella bursa pastoris, Carduus acanthoides, Cardus thoermeri, Centaurea solstitialis, Oestrum parqui, Chenopodium album, Chloris virgata, Chondrilla juncea, Cirsium vulgare, Commelina difusa, Convolvulus arvensis, Conyza bonariensis, Conyza canadiensis, Conyza sumatrensis, Cucumis anguria, Cucurbita maxima ssp. andreana, Cynara cardunculus, Cynodon hirsutus, Cyperus aggregatus, Cyperus corymbosus var. subnodosus, Cyperus difformis, Cyperus esculentus, Cyperus iria, Cyperus luzulae, Cyperus odoratus, Cyperus pohlii, Cyperus rotundus, Datura ferox, Daucus pusillus, Digitaria insularis, Digitaria sanguinalis, Diplotaxis tenuifolia, Distichlis scoparia, Dysphania pumilio, Echinochloa chacoensis, Echinochloa colona, Echinochloa crusgalli, Echinochloa oryzoides, Echinodorus grandiflorus, Echium plantagineum, Ehrharta longiflora, Eleocharis bonariensis, Eleocharis haumaniana, Eleusine indica, Eleusine tristachya, Eragrostis curvula, Erodium cicutarium, Eryngium eburneum, Euphorbia papillosa, Euphorbia serpens, Flaveria bidentis, Fumaria officinalis, Galinsoga parviflora, Galium aparine, Gnaphalium gaudichaudianum, Gomphrena celosioides, Hirschfeldia incana, Hybanthus parviflorus,

[0183] Hymenachne amplexicaulis, Hypochaeris chilensis, Hypochaeris radicata, Ibicella lutea, Ipomoea cordatotriloba, Ipomoea grandifolia, Ipomoea nil, Ipomoea purpurea, Iresine diffusa, Juncus imbricatus, Juncus microcephalus, Lactuca serriola, Lamium amplexicaule, Lepidium bonariense, Leptochloa chinensis, Limnobium laevigatum, Lolium multiflorum, Lolium perenne, Lolium rigidum, Ludwigia bonariensis, Ludwigia peploides, Luziola peruviana, Lysimachia arvensis, Malvastrum coromandelianum, Matricaria chamomilla, Nicotiana longiflora, Nicotiana noctiflora, Nymphoides indica, Onopordum acanthium, Panicum dichotomiflorum, Panicum urvilleanum, Parietaria debilis, Pascalia glauca, Paspalum dilatatum, Paspalum distichum, Paspalum modestum, Paspalum repens, Petunia axillaris, Physalis angulata, Physalis viscosa, Planfago lanceolafa, Pluchea sagittalis, Polygonum acuminatum, Polygonum aviculare, Polygonum convolvulus, Polygonum hydropiperoides, Polygonum lapathifolium, Polygonum persicaria, Pontederia azurea, Portulaca oleracea, Raphanus sativus, Rapistrum rugosum, Richardia brasiliensis, Richardia stellaris, Rumex crispus, Sagittaria montevidensis, Sagittaria trifolia, Salsola kali, Salsola tragus, Schkuhria pinnata, Scirpus juncoides, Sesbania virgata, Setaria parviflora, Setaria pumila, Setaria verticillata, Setaria viridis, Sida rhombifolia, Sida spinosa, Silene gallica, Sisymbrium irio, Sisymbrium officinale, Sisymbrium chilense, Solanum angustifolium, Solanum elaeagnifolium, Solanum sisymbriifolium, Solidago chilensis, Sonchus oleraceus, Sorghum halepense, Steinchisma hians, Stellaria media, Stipa brachychaeta, Tagetes minuta, Taraxacum officinale, Thalia multiflora, Tribulus terrestris, Urochloa platyphylla, Urochloa panicoides, Verbena litoralis, Verbesina encelioides, Veronica persica, Vicia graminea, Viola arvensis, Xanthium spinosum, and Xanthium strumarium.

[0184] The herbicide composition may be prepared by mixing or blending the ingredients together, e.g., forthe preparation of a liquid composition. Alternatively, forthe preparation of a solid composition, the process may require dry or wet milling.

[0185] Thanks to the teachings provided herein, a person skilled in the art would be capable of producing an herbicide composition comprising a peptide construct according to the invention. It falls within the knowledge of a person skilled in art to modify the herbicide composition to better suit specific needs. For example, the composition may be modified to better suit a preferred application methodology, to better suit an environmental condition such as temperature, pH, salinity, or to allow a more effective application on a particular pest species. It shall be understood that these modifications fall within the scope of the invention.

[0186] A fifth aspect of the present invention is a method of controlling a plant pest, comprising the steps of a) providing a composition of the third aspect of the present invention, b) applying an effective amount of said composition to a target pest plant.

[0187] The method of the fifth aspect comprises applying an effective amount of a composition of the fourth aspect to a pest plant selected from genus selected from Abutilon spp., Acanthospermum spp., Acicarpha spp., Aeschynomene spp., Agrosthemna spp., Alopecurus spp., , Alfernanfhera spp., Amaranthus spp., Ambrosia spp., Ammi spp., Anoda spp., Anthemis spp., Artemisia spp., Avena spp., AzoIla spp., Baccharis spp., Bassia spp., Beckmannia spp., Bidens spp., , Bowlesia spp., Bromus spp., Capsella spp., Carduus spp., Centaurea spp., Oestrum spp., Chenopodium spp., Chloris spp., Chondrilla spp., Cirsium spp., Commelina spp., Convolvulus spp., Conyza spp., Cucumis spp., Cucurbita spp., Cynara spp., Cynodon spp., Cy perus spp., Datura spp., Daucus spp., Digitaria spp., Diplotaxis spp., Distichlis spp., Dysphania spp., Echinochloa spp., Echinodorus spp., Echium spp., Ehrharta spp., Eleocharis spp., Eleusine spp., Eragrostis spp., Erodium spp, Eryngium spp., Euphorbia spp., Flaveria spp., Fumaria spp., Galinsoga spp., Galium spp., Gnaphalium spp., Gomphrena spp., Hirschfeldia spp., Hybanthus spp., Hymenachne spp., Hypochaeris spp., Hypochaeris spp., Ibicella spp., Ipomoea spp., Iresine spp., Juncus spp., Lactuca spp., Lamium spp., Lepidium spp., Leptochloa spp., Limnobium spp., Lolium spp., Ludwigia spp., Luziola spp., Lysimachia spp., Malvastrum spp., Matricaria spp., Nicotiana spp., Nymphoides spp., Onopordum spp., Panicum spp., Parietaria spp., Pascalia spp., Paspalum spp., Petunia spp., Physalis spp., Planta o spp., Pluchea spp., Polygonum spp., Pontederia spp., Portulaca spp., Raphanus spp., Rapistrum spp., Richardia spp. Rumex spp., Sagittaria spp., Salsola spp., Schkuhria spp., Scirpus spp., Sesbania spp., Setaria spp., Sida spp., Silene spp., Sisymbrium spp., Solanum spp., Solidago spp., Sonchus spp., Sorghum spp., Steinchisma spp., Stellaria spp., Stipa spp., Tagetes spp., Taraxacum spp., Thalia spp., Tribulus spp., Urochloa spp, Verbena spp., Verbesina spp., Veronica spp., Vicia spp., Viola spp., and Xanthium spp.

[0188] More preferably, to a pest plant selected from Alopecurus aequalis, Alopecurus myosuroides, Alopecurus geniculatus, Abutilon theophrasti, Acanthospermum hispidum, Acicarpha tribuloides, Aeschynomene denticulata, Aeschynomene rudis, Agrosthemna githago, Alopecurus myosuroides, Alternanthera kurtzii, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Amaranthus albus, Amaranthus deflexus, Amaranthus spinosus, Amaranthus viridis, Amaranthus hybridus, Amarathus palmeri, Amaranthus retroflexus, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Ammannia auriculata, Ammi majus, Anoda cristata, Anthemis cotula, Artemisia verlotiorum, Avena barbata, Avena fatua, AzoIla filiculoides, Baccharis ulicina, Bassia scoparia, Beckmannia syzigachne, Bidens subalternans, Bowlesia incana, Brassica napus, Brassica rapa, Bromus catharticus, Capsella bursa pastoris, Carduus acanthoides, Cardus thoermeri, Centaurea solstitialis, Oestrum parqui, Chenopodium album, Chloris virgata, Chondrilla juncea, Cirsium vulgare, Commelina difusa, Convolvulus arvensis, Conyza bonariensis, Conyza canadiensis, Conyza sumatrensis, Cucumis anguria, Cucurbita maxima ssp. andreana, Cynara cardunculus, Cynodon hirsutus, Cyperus aggregatus, Cyperus corymbosus var. subnodosus, Cyperus difformis, Cyperus esculentus, Cyperus iria, Cyperus luzulae, Cyperus odoratus, Cyperus pohlii, Cyperus rotundus, Datura ferox, Daucus pusillus, Digitaria insularis, Digitaria sanguinalis, Diplotaxis tenuifolia, Distichlis scoparia, Dysphania pumilio, Echinochloa chacoensis, Echinochloa colona, Echinochloa crusgalli, Echinochloa oryzoides, Echinodorus grandiflorus, Echium plantagineum, Ehrharta longiflora, Eleocharis bonariensis, Eleocharis haumaniana, Eleusine indica, Eleusine tristachya, Eragrostis curvula, Erodium cicutarium, Eryngium eburneum, Euphorbia papillosa, Euphorbia serpens, Flaveria bidentis, Fumaria officinalis, Galinsoga parviflora, Galium aparine, Gnaphalium gaudichaudianum, Gomphrena celosioides, Hirschfeldia incana, Hybanthus parviflorus,

[0189] Hymenachne amplexicaulis, Hypochaeris chilensis, Hypochaeris radicata, Ibicella lutea, Ipomoea cordatotriloba, Ipomoea grandifolia, Ipomoea nil, Ipomoea purpurea, Iresine diffusa, Juncus imbricatus, Juncus microcephalus, Lactuca serriola, Lamium amplexicaule, Lepidium bonariense, Leptochloa chinensis, Limnobium laevigatum, Lolium multiflorum, Lolium perenne, Lolium rigidum, Ludwigia bonariensis, Ludwigia peploides, Luziola peruviana, Lysimachia arvensis, Malvastrum coromandelianum, Matricaria chamomilla, Nicotiana longiflora, Nicotiana noctiflora, Nymphoides indica, Onopordum acanthium, Panicum dichotomiflorum, Panicum urvilleanum, Parietaria debilis, Pascalia glauca, Paspalum dilatatum, Paspalum distichum, Paspalum modestum, Paspalum repens, Petunia axillaris, Physalis angulata, Physalis viscosa, Plantago lanceolata, Pluchea sagittalis, Polygonum acuminatum, Polygonum aviculare, Polygonum convolvulus, Polygonum hydropiperoides, Polygonum lapathifolium, Polygonum persicaria, Pontederia azurea, Portulaca oleracea, Raphanus sativus, Rapistrum rugosum, Richardia brasiliensis, Richardia stellaris, Rumex crispus, Sagittaria montevidensis, Sagittaria trifolia, Salsola kali, Salsola tragus, Schkuhria pinnata, Scirpus juncoides, Sesbania virgata, Setaria parviflora, Setaria pumila, Setaria verticillata, Setaria viridis, Sida rhombifolia, Sida spinosa, Silene gallica, Sisymbrium irio, Sisymbrium officinale, Sisymbrium chilense, Solanum angustifolium, Solanum elaeagnifolium, Solanum sisymbriifolium, Solidago chilensis, Sonchus oleraceus, Sorghum halepense, Steinchisma hians, Stellaria media, Stipa brachychaeta, Tagetes minuta, Taraxacum officinale, Thalia multiflora, Tribulus terrestris, Urochloa platyphylla , Urochloa panicoides, Verbena litoralis, Verbesina encelioides, Veronica persica, Vicia graminea, Viola arvensis, Xanthium spinosum, and Xanthium strumarium.

[0190] In an embodiment, the method of the fifth aspect comprises applying the composition of the fourth aspect to the surface of a plant or plant part, including seeds, leaves, flowers, stems, tubers, roots, or any combination thereof. Preferably, the method of the present invention comprises contacting the pest plant with the composition ofthe present invention. Said contact may be direct, for example by applying said composition over a plant or plant part, or indirectly applying the composition, for example by applying the composition to the soil where the pest plant grows and / or develops normally.

[0191] In an embodiment, the method of the fifth aspect comprises applying an herbicidal composition of the present invention in a dose between 50-250 L / ha, preferably between 75-200 L / ha, more preferably in a dose of 130 L / ha.

[0192] In an embodiment, the method of the fifth aspect comprises applying an herbicidal composition of the present invention at least 2 times, preferably between 2-4 times. In an embodiment the method of the present invention comprises applying an herbicidal composition of the present invention at least when the pest is discovered and at least one additional time, periodically, after a certain number of days, for example, after 5-7 days.

[0193] It falls within the knowledge of the person skilled in the art to determine the most effective application regime for an optimal performance of the method of the present invention, as well as the optimal dosage to apply to a pest plant of the method of the present invention. It shall be understood that those methods fall within the scope of the method.

[0194] A sixth aspect of the present invention is to provide the use of a PNA of the first or second aspect of the present invention for controlling a plant pest. In an embodiment, the use of the PNA of the first or second aspect comprises controlling a plant pest selected from the genus Abutilon spp., Acanthospermum spp., Acicarpha spp., Aeschynomene spp., Agrosthemna spp., Alopecurus spp., , Alternanthera spp., Amaranthus spp., Ambrosia spp., Ammi spp., Anoda spp., Anthemis spp., Artemisia spp., Avena spp., AzoIla spp., Baccharis spp., Bassia spp., Beckmannia spp., Bidens spp., , Bowlesia spp., Bromus spp., Capsella spp., Carduus spp., Centaurea spp., Oestrum spp., Chenopodium spp., Chloris spp., Chondrilla spp., Cirsium spp., Commelina spp., Convolvulus spp., Conyza spp., Cucumis spp., Cucurbita spp., Cynara spp., Cynodon spp., Cyperus spp., Datura spp., Daucus spp., Digitaria spp., Diplotaxis spp., Distichlis spp., Dysphania spp., Echinochloa spp., Echinodorus spp., Echium spp., Ehrharta spp., Eleocharis spp., Eleusine spp., Eragrostis spp., Erodium spp, Eryngium spp., Euphorbia spp., Flaveria spp., Fumaria spp., Galinsoga spp., Galium spp., Gnaphalium spp., Gomphrena spp., Hirschfeldia spp., Hybanthus spp., Hymenachne spp., Hypochaeris spp., Hypochaeris spp., Ibicella spp., Ipomoea spp., Iresine spp., Juncus spp., Lactuca spp., Lamium spp., Lepidium spp., Leptochloa spp., Limnobium spp., Lolium spp., Ludwigia spp., Luziola spp., Lysimachia spp., Malvastrum spp., Matricaria spp., Nicotiana spp., Nympho ides spp., Onopordum spp., Panicum spp., Parietaria spp., Pascalia spp., Paspalum spp., Petunia spp., Physalis spp., Plantago spp., Pluchea spp., Polygonum spp., Pontederia spp., Portulaca spp., Raphanus spp., Rapistrum spp., Richardia spp. Rumex spp., Sagittaria spp., Salsola spp., Schkuhria spp., Scirpus spp., Sesbania spp., Setaria spp., Sida spp., Silene spp., Sisymbrium spp., Solanum spp., Solidago spp., Sonchus spp., Sorghum spp., Steinchisma spp., Stellaria spp., Stipa spp., Tagetes spp., Taraxacum spp., Thalia spp., Tribulus spp., Urochloa spp, Verbena spp., Verbesina spp., Veronica spp., Vicia spp., Viola spp., and Xanthium spp.

[0195] More preferably, a plant pest selected from Alopecurus aequalis, Alopecurus myosuroides, Alopecurus geniculatus, Abutilon theophrasti, Acanthospermum hispidum, Acicarpha tribuloides, Aeschynomene denticulata, Aeschynomene rudis, Agrosthemna githago, Alopecurus myosuroides, Alternanthera kurtzii, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Amaranthus albus, Amaranthus deflexus, Amaranthus spinosus, Amaranthus viridis, Amaranthus hybridus, Amarathus palmer!, Amaranthus retroflexus, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Ammannia auriculata, Ammi majus, Anoda cristata, Anthemis cotula, Artemisia verlotiorum, Avena barbata, Avena fatua, AzoIla filiculoides, Baccharis ulicina, Bassia scoparia, Beckmannia syzigachne, Bidens subalternans, Bowlesia incana, Brassica napus, Brassica rapa, Bromus catharticus, Capsella bursa pastoris, Carduus acanthoides, Cardus thoermeri, Centaurea solstitialis, Cestrum parqui, Chenopodium album, Chloris virgata, Chondrilla juncea, Cirsium vulgare, Commelina difusa, Convolvulus arvensis, Conyza bonariensis, Conyza canadiensis, Conyza sumatrensis, Cucumis anguria, Cucurbita maxima ssp. andreana, Cynara cardunculus, Cynodon hirsutus, Cyperus aggregatus, Cyperus corymbosus var. subnodosus, Cyperus difformis, Cyperus esculentus, Cyperus iria, Cyperus luzulae, Cyperus odoratus, Cyperus pohlii, Cyperus rotundus, Datura ferox, Daucus pusillus, Digitaria insularis, Digitaria sanguinalis, Diplotaxis tenuifolia, Distichlis scoparia, Dysphania pumilio, Echinochloa chacoensis, Echinochloa colona, Echinochloa crusgalli, Echinochloa oryzoides, Echinodorus grandiflorus, Echium plantagineum, Ehrharta longiflora, Eleocharis bonariensis, Eleocharis haumaniana, Eleusine indica, Eleusine tristachya, Eragrostis curvula, Erodium cicutarium, Eryngium eburneum, Euphorbia papillosa, Euphorbia serpens, Flaveria bidentis, Fumaria officinalis, Galinsoga parviflora, Galium aparine, Gnaphalium gaudichaudianum, Gomphrena celosioides, Hirschfeldia incana, Hybanthus parviflorus, Hymenachne amplexicaulis, Hypochaeris chilensis, Hypochaeris radicata, Ibicella lutea, Ipomoea cordatotriloba, Ipomoea grandifolia, Ipomoea nil, Ipomoea purpurea, Iresine diffusa, Juncus imbricatus, Juncus microcephalus, Lactuca serriola, Lamium amplexicaule, Lepidium bonariense, Leptochloa chinensis, Limnobium laevigatum, Lolium multiflorum, Lolium perenne, Lolium rigidum, Ludwigia bonariensis, Ludwigia peploides, Luziola peruviana, Lysimachia arvensis, Malvastrum coromandelianum, Matricaria chamomilla, Nicotiana longiflora, Nicotiana noctiflora, Nymphoides indica, Onopordum acanthium, Panicum dichotomiflorum, Panicum urvilleanum, Parietaria debilis, Pascalia glauca, Paspalum dilatatum, Paspalum distichum, Paspalum modestum, Paspalum repens, Petunia axillaris, Physalis angulata, Physalis viscosa, Planfago lanceolafa, Pluchea sagittalis, Polygonum acuminatum, Polygonum aviculare, Polygonum convolvulus, Polygonum hydropiperoides, Polygonum lapathifolium, Polygonum persicaria, Pontederia azurea, Portulaca oleracea, Raphanus sativus, Rapistrum rugosum, Richardia brasiliensis, Richardia stellaris, Rumex crispus, Sagittaria montevidensis, Sagittaria trifolia, Salsola kali, Salsola tragus, Schkuhria pinnata, Scirpus juncoides, Sesbania virgata, Setaria parviflora, Setaria pumila, Setaria verticillata, Setaria viridis, Sida rhombifolia, Sida spinosa, Silene gallica, Sisymbrium irio, Sisymbrium officinale, Sisymbrium chilense, Solanum angustifolium, Solanum elaeagnifolium, Solanum sisymbriifolium, Solidago chilensis, Sonchus oleraceus, Sorghum halepense, Steinchisma hians, Stellaria media, Stipa brachychaeta, Tagetes minuta, Taraxacum officinale, Thalia multiflora, Tribulus terrestris, Urochloa platyphylla, Urochloa panicoides, Verbena litoralis, Verbesina encelioides, Veronica persica, Vicia graminea, Viola arvensis, Xanthium spinosum, and Xanthium strumarium.

[0196] It is a seventh aspect of the present invention to provide a method for silencing, knocking down, downregulating or modulating negatively the expression of at least one target gene or mRNA, comprising the steps of a) providing a PNA of the first or second aspect of the present invention or a peptide construct of the third aspect of the present invention, b) introducing the PNA of the first or second aspect of the present invention or the peptide construct of the third aspect of the present invention into a target cell comprising said at least one target gene or mRNA.

[0197] In an embodiment, step b) is performed by applying a composition of the fourth aspect of the present invention to said target cell. The target cell may be an isolated cell, or may be part of a tissue, organ or complete organism. Furthermore, the step B) may be performed in vivo or In vitro. In an embodiment, the target cell of step b) is a plant cell from a pest plant.

[0198] In a preferred embodiment, the target cell of step b) is a plant cell of a plant of a genus selected from Abutilon spp., Acanthospermum spp., Acicarpha spp., Aeschynomene spp., Agrosthemna spp., Alopecurus spp., , Alternanthera spp., Amaranthus spp., Ambrosia spp., Ammi spp., Anoda spp., Anthemis spp., Artemisia spp., Avena spp., AzoIla spp., Baccharis spp., Bassia spp., Beckmannia spp., Bidens spp., , Bowlesia spp., Bromus spp., Capsella spp., Carduus spp., Centaurea spp., Oestrum spp., Chenopodium spp., Chloris spp., Chondrilla spp., Cirsium spp., Commelina spp., Convolvulus spp., Conyza spp., Cucumis spp., Cucurbita spp., Cynara spp., Cynodon spp., Cyperus spp., Datura spp., Daucus spp., Digitaria spp., Diplotaxis spp., Distichlis spp., Dysphania spp., Echinochloa spp., Echinodorus spp., Echium spp., Ehrharta spp., Eleocharis spp., Eleusine spp., Eragrostis spp., Erodium spp, Eryngium spp., Euphorbia spp., Flaveria spp., Fumaria spp., Galinsoga spp., Galium spp., Gnaphalium spp., Gomphrena spp., Hirschfeldia spp., Hybanthus spp., Hymenachne spp., Hypochaeris spp., Hypochaeris spp., Ibicella spp., Ipomoea spp., Iresine spp., Juncus spp., Lactuca spp., Lamium spp., Lepidium spp., Leptochloa spp., Limnobium spp., Lolium spp., Ludwigia spp., Luziola spp., Lysimachia spp., Malvastrum spp., Matricaria spp., Nicotiana spp., Nymphoides spp., Onopordum spp., Panicum spp., Parietaria spp., Pascalia spp., Paspalum spp., Petunia spp., Physalis spp., Plantago spp., Pluchea spp., Polygonum spp., Pontederia spp., Portulaca spp., Raphanus spp., Rapistrum spp., Richardia spp. Rumex spp., Sagittaria spp., Salsola spp., Schkuhria spp., Scirpus spp., Sesbania spp., Setaria spp., Sida spp., Silene spp., Sisymbrium spp., Solanum spp., Solidago spp., Sonchus spp., Sorghum spp., Steinchisma spp., Stellaria spp., Stipa spp., Tagetes spp., Taraxacum spp., Thalia spp., Tribulus spp., Urochloa spp, Verbena spp., Verbesina spp., Veronica spp., Vicia spp., Viola spp., Xanthium spp.

[0199] More preferably, the target cell of step b) is a plant cell of a plant selected from Alopecurus aequalis, Alopecurus myosuroides, Alopecurus geniculatus, Abutilon theophrasti, Acanthospermum hispidum, Acicarpha tribuloides, Aeschynomene denticulata, Aeschynomene rudis, Agrosthemna githago, Alopecurus myosuroides, Alternanthera kurtzii, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Amaranthus albus, Amaranthus deflexus, Amaranthus spinosus, Amaranthus viridis, Amaranthus hybridus, Amarathus palmer!, Amaranthus retroflexus, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Ammannia auriculata, Ammi majus, Anoda cristata, Anthemis cotula, Artemisia verlotiorum, Avena barbata, Avena fatua, AzoIla filiculoides, Baccharis ulicina, Bassia scoparia, Beckmannia syzigachne, Bidens subalternans, Bowlesia incana, Brassica napus, Brassica rapa, Bromus catharticus, Capsella bursa pastoris, Carduus acanthoides, Cardus thoermeri, Centaurea solstitialis, Cestrum parqui, Chenopodium album, Chloris virgata, Chondrilla juncea, Cirsium vulgare, Commelina difusa, Convolvulus arvensis, Conyza bonariensis, Conyza canadiensis, Conyza sumatrensis, Cucumis anguria, Cucurbita maxima ssp. andreana, Cynara cardunculus, Cynodon hirsutus, Cyperus aggregatus, Cyperus corymbosus var. subnodosus, Cyperus difformis, Cyperus esculentus, Cyperus iria, Cyperus luzulae, Cyperus odoratus, Cyperus pohlii, Cyperus rotundus, Datura ferox, Daucus pusillus, Digitaria insularis, Digitaria sanguinalis, Diplotaxis tenuifolia, Distichlis scoparia, Dysphania pumilio, Echinochloa chacoensis, Echinochloa colona, Echinochloa crusgalli, Echinochloa oryzoides, Echinodorus grandiflorus, Echium plantagineum, Ehrharta longiflora, Eleocharis bonariensis, Eleocharis haumaniana, Eleusine indica, Eleusine tristachya, Eragrostis curvula, Erodium cicutarium, Eryngium eburneum, Euphorbia papillosa, Euphorbia serpens, Flaveria bidentis, Fumaria officinalis, Galinsoga parviflora, Galium aparine, Gnaphalium gaudichaudianum, Gomphrena celosioides, Hirschfeldia incana, Hybanthus parviflorus, Hymenachne amplexicaulis, Hypochaeris chilensis, Hypochaeris radicata, Ibicella lutea, Ipomoea cordatotriloba, Ipomoea grandifolia, Ipomoea nil, Ipomoea purpurea, Iresine diffusa, Juncus imbricatus, Juncus microcephalus, Lactuca serriola, Lamium amplexicaule, Lepidium bonariense, Leptochloa chinensis, Limnobium laevigatum, Lolium multiflorum, Lolium perenne, Lolium rigidum, Ludwigia bonariensis, Ludwigia peploides, Luziola peruviana, Lysimachia arvensis, Malvastrum coromandelianum, Matricaria chamomilla, Nicotiana longiflora, Nicotiana noctiflora, Nymphoides indica, Onopordum acanthium, Panicum dichotomiflorum, Panicum urvilleanum, Parietaria debilis, Pascalia glauca, Paspalum dilatatum, Paspalum distichum, Paspalum modestum, Paspalum repens, Petunia axillaris, Physalis angulata, Physalis viscosa, Plantago lanceolata, Pluchea sagittalis, Polygonum acuminatum, Polygonum aviculare, Polygonum convolvulus, Polygonum hydropiperoides, Polygonum lapathifolium, Polygonum persicaria, Pontederia azurea, Portulaca oleracea, Raphanus sativus, Rapistrum rugosum, Richardia brasiliensis, Richardia stellaris, Rumex crispus, Sagittaria montevidensis, Sagittaria trifolia, Salsola kali, Salsola tragus, Schkuhria pinnata, Scirpus juncoides, Sesbania virgata, Setaria parviflora, Setaria pumila, Setaria verticillata, Setaria viridis, Sida rhombifolia, Sida spinosa, Silene gallica, Sisymbrium irio, Sisymbrium officinale, Sisymbrium chilense, Solanum angustifolium, Solanum elaeagnifolium, Solanum sisymbriifolium, Solidago chilensis, Sonchus oleraceus, Sorghum halepense, Steinchisma hians, Stellaria media, Stipa brachychaeta, Tagetes minuta, Taraxacum officinale, Thalia multiflora, Tribulus terrestris, Urochloa platyphylla, Urochloa panicoides, Verbena litoralis, Verbesina encelioides, Veronica persica, Vicia graminea, Viola arvensis, Xanthium spinosum, and Xanthium strumarium.

[0200] In an embodiment, the method of the seventh aspect comprises silencing, knocking down, downregulating or modulating negatively at least one target gene or mRNA that’s involved in an essential metabolic role, stress response, or in a defense response pathway selected from, but not limited to, the primary and secondary sulfate pathways, the auxin biosynthesis pathways (such as the lAOx pathway, TAA / YUC pathway, IPA pathway, and iaaM I iaaH pathway), the shikimate pathway, the nitrate assimilation pathway, the GS / GOGAT assimilation pathway, the aspartic acid metabolic pathway, the SOS pathway, the ABA signaling pathway, the JA signaling pathway, ethylene-signaling pathway, the chlorophyll synthesis pathway, the Krebs cycle pathway, the mitochondrial and chloroplast electron transport chains, antioxidant pathways, the Calvin cycle pathway, the flavine synthesis pathway, diacylglycerol and triacylglycerol synthesis pathways, the phosphatidylglycerol synthesis pathway. Preferably, wherein said at least one target gene or mRNA is selected from c-Type cytochrome biogenesis protein; Cytochrome c biogenesis protein-like; F0F1 ATP synthase subunit B'; Mg- protoporphyrin IX methyl transferase; Phosphoglycerate mutase; Bifunctional riboflavin kinase / FMN adenylyltransferase; 3-Oxoacyl-(acyl carrier protein) synthase II; Ribose-5- phosphate isomerase A; 50S ribosomal protein L10; 3-oxoacyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] reductase; 30S ribosomal protein S1 ; Shikimate kinase; Ferredoxin-NADP oxidoreductase; Photosystem I reaction center subunit II; Ribulose 1 ,5-bisphosphate carboxylase small subunit; 1-Acyl-sn- glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase; Ferredoxin; Ferredoxin; Iron-regulated ABC transporter permease protein SufD; Ribose-phosphate pyrophosphokinase; Superoxide dismutase; Catalase; Ascorbate peroxidase; Guaicol peroxidase; Monodehydroascorbate reductase; Dehydroascorbate reductase; Glutathione reductase; Glutathione S-transferase; Carbonic anhydrase; PEP carboxylase; Malate dehydrogenase; NADP-malic enzyme; Pyruvate Pi dikinase; Oxoglutarate / malate transporter; PEP / phosphatetranslocator; Dicarboxylate transporter ; Pyruvate / sodium symporter; Sodium / proton antiporter; Tonoplast dicarboxylate transporter; Aluminum-activated malate transporter; Histone H3-like centromeric protein CENH3; Protein mago nashi homolog; Exosome complex component RRP4 homolog; Probable ribonuclease P / MRP protein subunit POP5; Large ribosomal subunit protein uL6c; 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase; Protein TIC110, chloroplastic; Vacuolar protein sorting-associated protein 41 homolog; mRNA-decapping enzyme-like protein; RNI-like superfamily protein; Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 subunit H; Sterol 14-demethylase; ditrans, polycis-polyprenyl diphosphate synthase [(2E,6E)-farnesyldiphosphate specific]; 25.3 kDa vesicle transport protein SEC22-1 ; Protein HIGH CHLOROPHYLL FLUORESCENCE PHENOTYPE 173, chloroplastic; Protein NUCLEOLAR FACTOR 1 ; Protein TRIGALACTOSYLDIACYLGLYCEROL 1 , chloroplastic; Probable 3-beta-hydroxysteroid-Delta(8),Delta(7)-isomerase; Extensin-3; Tetratricopeptide repeat domain-containing protein PYG7, chloroplastic; THO complex subunit 2; Histidine biosynthesis bifunctional protein hislE, chloroplastic; Glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase, chloroplastic; tRNA-specific adenosine deaminase TAD2; Transcription factor bHLH95; FAD-linked sulfhydryl oxidase ERV1 ; Protein LHCP TRANSLOCATION DEFECT; Protein TRAUCO; Persulfide dioxygenase ETHE1 homolog, mitochondrial; Mediator of RNA polymerase II transcription subunit 13; Calpain-type cysteine protease DEK1 ; Probable WRKY transcription factor 10; Mitochondrial import inner membrane translocase subunit TIM50; EMB1303; 2-carboxy-1 ,4-naphthoquinone phytyltransferase, chloroplastic; UDP-N- acetylmuramoyl-L-alanyl-D-glutamate-2,6-diaminopimelate ligase MurE homolog, chloroplastic; 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate synthase, chloroplastic; Probable DNA primase large subunit; DNA polymerase alpha subunit B; Tubulin-folding cofactor E; Protein SLOW WALKER 2; phosphoribosylformylglycinamidine synthase, chloroplastic / mitochondrial; Vacuolar protein sorting-associated protein 45 homolog; Anaphase-promoting complex subunit 6; V-type proton ATPase catalytic subunit A; Peroxisome biogenesis protein 2; D-glycerate 3-kinase, chloroplastic; Sec-independent protein translocase protein TATC, chloroplastic; Nicotinate- nucleotide pyrophosphorylase [carboxylating], chloroplastic; Pentatricopeptide repeat-containing protein At2g01860; 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate cytidylyltransferase, chloroplastic; Protein MATERNAL EFFECT EMBRYO ARREST 12; Signal peptide peptidase; Protein SHORT ROOT IN SALT MEDIUM 1 ; Ribonuclease E / G-like protein, chloroplastic; Anaphase-promoting complex subunit 2; Protein TIC 21 , chloroplastic; Pentatricopeptide repeat-containing protein At2g15820, chloroplastic; Protein NUCLEOLAR COMPLEX ASSOCIATED 4; Anaphasepromoting complexsubunit 10; Preprotein translocase subunit SCY1 , chloroplastic; Diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 1 ; Probable ATP synthase 24 kDa subunit, mitochondrial; Protein TIC236, chloroplastic; Peroxisome biogenesis factor 10; DnaJ homolog subfamily C GRV2; 4- diphosphocytidyl-2-C-methyl-D-erythritol kinase, chloroplastic; COP9 signalosome complex subunit 2; Structural maintenance of chromosomes protein 3; Transcription factor FER-LIKE IRON DEFICIENCY-INDUCED TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR; Outer envelope pore protein 16-1 , chloroplastic; Phosphomethylpyrimidine synthase, chloroplastic; Tubulin-folding cofactor A; Protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunit INH3; Condensin complex subunit 2; Small ribosomal subunit protein uS5c; 187-kDa microtubule-associated protein AIR9; Maternal effect embryo arrest 22; Protein MOR1 ; 1-(5-phosphoribosyl)-5-[(5-phosphoribosylamino)methylideneamino] imidazole-4-carboxamide isomerase, chloroplastic; Origin of replication complex subunit 2; Protein VACUOLELESS1 ; AMP deaminase; Ethanolamine-phosphate cytidylyltransferase; P- loop containing nucleoside triphosphate hydrolases superfamily protein; Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 subunit F; Biotin synthase, mitochondrial; Nuclear pore complex protein NUP62; Probable tRNA N6-adenosine threonylcarbamoyltransferase, mitochondrial; Peroxisome biogenesis protein 16; Protein SLOW WALKER 1 ; Protein PALE CRESS, chloroplastic; Protein TPLATE; Tyrosine-tRNA ligase, chloroplastic / mitochondrial; Peroxisome biogenesis protein 12; Protein EMBRYO DEFECTIVE 2016; Bifunctional 3-dehydroquinate dehydratase / shikimate dehydrogenase, chloroplastic; Thioredoxin-like protein CITRX, chloroplastic; Protein Embryo Defective 1974; Protein TAB2 homolog, chloroplastic; DnaJ protein ERDJ3A; Tubulin-folding cofactor B; Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase SDP6, mitochondrial; Exocyst complex component SEC8; ABC transporter I family member 6, chloroplastic; DNA gyrase subunit A, chloroplastic / mitochondrial; Retinoblastoma-related protein 1 ; Protein FLUORESCENT IN BLUE LIGHT, chloroplastic; Pectinesterase; COMPLEX 1 LYR-like protein; Protein disulfide-isomerase SCO2; Titan9; Ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase 14; Polycomb group protein FERTILIZATION-INDEPENDENT ENDOSPERM; DNA topoisomerase 6 subunit B; Protein BLISTER; tRNA(lle)-lysidine synthetase; Probable inactive shikimate kinase like 1 , chloroplastic; Protein RST1 ; Protein THYLAKOID ASSEMBLY 8, chloroplastic; LOB domain-containing protein 27; Glycine-tRNA ligase, chloroplastic / mitochondrial 2; PGG domain-containing protein; Protein PLASTID TRANSCRIPTIONALLY ACTIVE 10; Ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase 26; Uracil phosphoribosyltransferase, chloroplastic; FKBP12-interacting protein of 37 kDa; F-box / LRR- repeat protein 17; Probable arabinose 5-phosphate isomerase; Phosphoribosylformylglycinamidine cyclo-ligase, chloroplastic; AP3-complex subunit beta-A; Glycosylinositol phosphorylceramide mannosyl transferase 1 ; H / ACA ribonucleoprotein complex subunit 4; SUMO-conjugating enzyme SCE1 ; Tubulin-folding cofactor D; COP9 signalosome complex subunit 1 ; Beclin-1 -like protein; 2-methyl-6-phytyl-1 ,4-hydroquinone methyltransferase, chloroplastic; DAR GTPase 3, chloroplastic; Auxin-binding protein 1 ; Frataxin, mitochondrial; Leucine-tRNA ligase, chloroplastic / mitochondrial; Mediator of RNA polymerase II transcription subunit 21 ; N6-adenosine-methyltransferase non-catalytic subunit MTB; N6-adenosine- methyltransferase MT-A70-like; Protein HAPLESS 2; COP9 signalosome complex subunit 8; Preprotein translocase subunit SECE1 ; Guanine nucleotide exchange factor SPIKE 1 ; Vacuolar protein sorting-associated protein 54, chloroplastic; ARM repeat superfamily protein; GPN-loop GTPase QQT2; Ubiquinol oxidase 4, chloroplastic / chromoplastic; Glutamate-cysteine ligase, chloroplastic; Magnesium protoporphyrin IX methyltransferase, chloroplastic; SufE-like protein 1 , chloroplastic / mitochondrial; Imidazole glycerol phosphate synthase hisHF, chloroplastic; PfkB- like carbohydrate kinase family protein; Protein Embryo Defective 1923; Cyclin-dependent kinase F-1 ; Polyprotein of EF-Ts, chloroplastic; Protein DECREASED SIZE EXCLUSION LIMIT 1 ; 1- acyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase LPAT1 , chloroplastic; Large ribosomal subunit protein bL21 m; DDB1- and CUL4-associated factor homolog 1 ; Protein CHROMOSOME TRANSMISSION FIDELITY 7; High chlorophyll fluorescence 153; Lariat debranching enzyme; Aminopeptidase M1 ; Thioredoxin-like protein HCF164, chloroplastic; Transcription termination factor MTERF6, chloroplastic / mitochondrial; Bifunctional phosphatase IMPL2, chloroplastic; Tubulin-folding cofactor C; Ribonuclease II, chloroplastic / mitochondrial; Nuclear pore complex protein NUP88; Protein NEDD1 ; Agmatine deiminase; Very-long-chain (3R)-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydratase PASTICCINO 2; Trafficking protein particle complex Il-specific subunit 120 homolog; Thylakoid membrane protein TERC, chloroplastic; Flowering time control protein FY; mRNA- decapping enzyme subunit 2; Alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase; COP9 signalosome complex subunit 3; Small ribosomal subunit protein uS13c; Pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase; Sister chromatid cohesion protein SCC2; Structural maintenance of chromosomes protein 5; Protein TIC 40, chloroplastic; Protein TORMOZ EMBRYO DEFECTIVE; SART-1 family protein DOT2; Anthranilate phosphoribosyltransferase, chloroplastic; Probable serine / threonine-protein phosphatase 2A regulatory subunit B" subunit TON2; Non-structural maintenance of chromosomes element 1 homolog; Replication factor C subunit 1 ; DNA polymerase epsilon subunit B; GPI mannosyltransferase 1 ; Protein TIC 100; Photosystem II stability / assembly factor HCF136, chloroplastic; tRNA-specific adenosine deaminase TAD3; Glutathione synthetase, chloroplastic; Sm-like protein LSM4; Replication factor C subunit 3; Protein EMBRYO DEFECTIVE 2656; Dihydrofolate synthetase; COP9 signalosome complex subunit 4; Protein XRI1 ; Pantoate-beta-alanine ligase; Pseudouridine synthase; Chromophore lyase CRL, chloroplastic; Conserved oligomeric Golgi complex subunit 7; UDP-sugar pyrophosphorylase; Protein Embryo defective 2737; Trafficking protein particle complex Il-specific subunit 130 homolog; Thiamine thiazole synthase, chloroplastic; Nicotinamide / nicotinic acid mononucleotide adenylyltransferase; Peroxisome biogenesis protein 5; Zinc finger CCCH domain-containing protein 65; Glycylpeptide N-tetradecanoyltransferase 1 ; Bifunctional dethiobiotin synthetase / 7,8- diamino-pelargonic acid aminotransferase, mitochondrial; WUSCHEL-related homeobox 2; Thymidylate kinase; Probable pyridoxal 5'-phosphate synthase subunit PDX2; Protein EMBRYO DEFECTIVE 514; 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase, chloroplastic; Peroxisomal membrane protein PEX14; Protein Embryo defective 2759; Ribonuclease J; Histidinol dehydrogenase, chloroplastic; Glutamate-tRNA ligase, chloroplastic / mitochondrial; and Dolichyl- diphosphooligosaccharide-protein glycosyltransferase 48 kDa subunit, Chlorophyll a / b binding protein (CAP10A), Chlorophyll a / b binding protein 36 (CAB36, Chlorophyll a / b binding protein 7 (LHCB7), Chlorophyll a / b binding protein (CAB7), Chlorophyll a / b binding protein (AB80), or their corresponding mRNA.

[0201] More preferably, the at least one target gene or mRNA is selected from 1-Acyl-sn-glycerol-3- phosphate acyltransferase, 30S ribosomal protein S1 , 3-Oxoacyl-(acyl carrier protein) synthase II, 3-oxoacyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] reductase, 50S ribosomal protein L10, Bifunctional riboflavin kinase / FMN adenylyltransferase, c-Type cytochrome biogenesis protein, Cytochrome c biogenesis protein-like, F0F1 ATP synthase subunit B', Ferredoxin, Ferredoxin-NADP oxidoreductase, Iron-regulated ABC transporter permease protein SufD, Mg-protoporphyrin IX methyl transferase, Phosphoglycerate mutase, Photosystem I reaction center subunit II, Ribose- 5-phosphate isomerase A, Ribose-phosphate pyrophosphokinase, Ribulose 1 ,5-bisphosphate carboxylase small subunit, Shikimate kinase, EMB514, endoplasmic reticulum auxin binding protein 1 , mitochondrial biotin synthase, topoisomerase 6 subunit B, TRAUCO, thioredoxin-like fold domain-containing protein MRL7, nuclear export mediator factor Nemf, DNA Gyrase A, protein LHCP TRANSLOCATION DEFECT, Sec-independent periplasmic protein translocase TATC, chloroplastic anthranilate phosphoribosyltransferase, and cytochrome c biogenesis protein CCS1 , or their corresponding mRNA.

[0202] In a preferred embodiment, the target gene or mRNA comprises any one sequence selected from:

[0203] • a target TSS comprising a sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 303-317,

[0204] • a target mRNA comprising a sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 318-332, or

[0205] • a target mRNA comprising a sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 333-347.

[0206] In an embodiment, the step b) comprises introducing between 0.01-500 pM of an at least one PNA of the first or second aspect or an herbicidal peptide construct of the third aspect of the invention. Preferably, the step b) comprises applying between 0.1-100 pM of the at least one herbicidal peptide construct, more preferably between 0.5-50 pM of the at least one herbicidal peptide construct.

[0207] EXAMPLES

[0208] All examples provided herein shall be understood only as exemplary embodiments of the different aspects of the invention and are not meant in any way to limit the scope of the invention. Experimental procedures: Greenhouse tests (whole plant assays):

[0209] Example 1 : PNA target site and dose test in plant model

[0210] Plant tissue: Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings expressing eGFP were seeded then thinned to one plant per pot. Plants that were 10 cm high were used to evaluate the treatment of a formulation containing different PNA sequences 15 bases long, against different regions of the eGFP target gene inserted in the plant genome, and linked to a plant cell penetrating peptide (CPP) to ensure its internalization. Plants were grown at 23°C with 10 hours of light each 24-hour period. Plants were watered 2 times a week.

[0211] Treatment of Plants: Arabidopsis plants were sprayed with a PANA formulation, containing PNAs of 15 bases directed against different regions of the eGFP target gene: start codon, 5’ end of the mRNA and the transcription start site (TSS). Each solution was tested at different concentrations (between 1 and 100 pM), to evaluate their silencing effect. A concentration of 0.02% - 0.07 % Silwett-77 was added as a spreader to the PANA solutions. Each treatment was applied to thirty individual plants (biological replicates) per experimental run. The entire experiment was independently repeated three times.

[0212] The PNA-CPP sequences used were as follows, where PNA monomers are indicated in uppercase and amino acid residues belonging to the CPP are denoted in lowercase:

[0213] Start codon: GGAGAGAACACGGGGIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 166) mRNA 5’: AAGAGTCCCCCGTGTIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 167) TSS: TCTACCATGGTCAAGIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 168)

[0214] Incubation: Arabidopsis plants were incubated inside a growth chamber. A humidifier was inside the chamber and set to low and continuous humidity (filled with tap water). The temperature was D: 24-20 °C / N: 20-18 °C with 10 hours of light. Watering occurred 2 times a week by subirrigation with the tray being flooded.

[0215] Survival Rating: Arabidopsis plants were rated for the fluorescent intensity decay at the end of the two-week experiment with the aim of determining the effects.

[0216] Data analysis: data presented for each treatment correspond to the mean + SD across data obtained forthree experimental runs of thirty biological replicates each. Percent fluorescent decay (%FD) was determined by the percent area of fluorescent intensity in plants foliage. Treatments were compared to the untreated plants. The results are summarized on Figure 1.

[0217] Example 2: PNA Length and dose test

[0218] Plant tissue: Conyza canadensis seedlings were seeded then thinned to one plant per pot. Plants that were at early to mid-rosette stage (6-8 cm high) were used to evaluate treatments of different PNA lengths, from 8-base to 15-base long, against essential genes of the target plants, and linked to a plant cell penetrating peptide (CPP) to ensure its internalization. Plants were grown at 23°C with 10 hours of light each 24-hour period. Plants were watered 2 times a week.

[0219] Treatment of Plants: Whole Conyza canadensis plants were sprayed with PNA solutions, each containing PNAs of different lengths (between 8 and 15 bases) and at different concentrations (between 1 and 100 pM), to evaluate their silencing effect. A concentration of 0.02% - 0.07 % Silwett-77 was added as a spreader to the PNA solutions. Each treatment was applied to ten individual plants (biological replicates) per experimental run. The entire experiment was independently repeated three times.

[0220] The PNA-CPP sequences used were as follows, where PNA monomers are indicated in uppercase and amino acid residues belonging to the CPP are denoted in lowercase:

[0221] 8 bases: GGATAAAAIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 169)

[0222] 9 bases: TGGATAAAAIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 170)

[0223] 10 bases: TGGATAAAATIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 171)

[0224] 11 bases: TTGGATAAAATIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 172)

[0225] 12 bases: TTGGATAAAATTIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 173)

[0226] 13 bases: TTTGGATAAAATTIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 174)

[0227] 14 bases: TTTGGATAAAATTAIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 175)

[0228] 15 bases: TTTTGGATAAAATTAIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 176)

[0229] Incubation: Conyza canadensis plants were incubated inside a growth chamber. A humidifierwas inside the chamber and set to low and continuous humidity (filled with tap water). The temperature was D: 24-20 °C / N: 20-18 °C with 10 hours of light. Watering occurred 2 times a week by subirrigation with the tray being flooded.

[0230] Survival Rating: Conyza canadensis plants were rated for the biologic decay severity at the end of the two-week experiment with the aim of determining the effects.

[0231] Data analysis: data presented for each treatment correspond to the mean + SD across data obtained for three experimental runs of ten biological replicates each. Percent decay severity (%DS) was determined by the percent area of plant foliage with symptoms including necrosis, lesions, chlorosis and wilting. Treatments were compared to the untreated plants.

[0232] The results are summarized on Figure 2.

[0233] Example 3: PNA vs Plant stage test

[0234] Plant tissue: Sorghum halepense, Conyza canadensis and Amaranthus hybridus seedlings were seeded then thinned to one plant per pot. Plants at different growth stages (from early, 3 cm in height, to Large rosette I bolting, 20 cm in height)) were treated using a spray-based CPP-PNA solution to evaluate its effectiveness at different points in the plant’s life cycle. Plants were grown at 23°C with 10 hours of light each 24-hour period. Plants were watered 2 times a week.

[0235] Treatment of Plants: Whole plants at heights of 3, 10, 15 and 20 cm were sprayed with a CPP- PNA solution, at 50 pM concentration and a PNA length of 15 bases. A concentration of 0.02% - 0.07 % Silwett-77 was added as a spreaderto the PNA solutions. Each treatment was applied to ten individual plants (biological replicates) per experimental run. The entire experiment was independently repeated three times.

[0236] The PNA-CPP sequences used were as follows, where PNA monomers are indicated in uppercase and amino acid residues belonging to the CPP are denoted in lowercase:

[0237] Sorghum: TCTGGTACGACAGTCIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 177)

[0238] Conyza: TTTTGGATAAAATTAIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 176)

[0239] Amaranthus: AAAAATCAGCCGAAAIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 178)

[0240] Incubation: Plants were incubated inside a growth chamber. A humidifier was inside the chamber and set to low and continuous humidity (filled with tap water). The temperature was D: 24-20 °C I N: 20-18 °C with 10 hours of light. Watering occurred 2 times a week by subirrigation with the tray being flooded.

[0241] Survival Rating: Plants were rated for the biologic decay severity at the end of the two-week experiment with the aim of determining the effects.

[0242] Data analysis: data presented for each treatment correspond to the mean + SD across data obtained for three experimental runs of ten biological replicates each. Percent decay severity (%DS) was determined by the percent area of plant foliage with symptoms including necrosis, lesions, chlorosis and wilting. Treatments were compared to the untreated plants.

[0243] The results are summarized on Figure 3. Example 4: CPP-PNA test

[0244] Plant tissue: Sorghum halepense, Amaranthus hybridus and Conyza canadensis seedlings, were seeded then thinned to one plant per pot. Plants were grown at 23°C with 10 hours of light each 24-hour period. Plants were watered 2 times a week.

[0245] Treatment of Plants: Whole plants with a height of 6 cm were sprayed with a 50 pM PNA-CPP solution, containing 15-base PNAs linked to different plant CPPs. A concentration of 0.02% - 0.07 % Silwett-77 was added as a spreader to the PNA solutions. Each treatment was applied to ten individual plants (biological replicates) per experimental run. The entire experiment was independently repeated three times.

[0246] The PNA-CPP sequences used (SEQ ID NO: 34, 137, 161 , 177 and 179-195) were as follows, where PNA monomers are indicated in uppercase and amino acid residues belonging to the CPP are denoted in lowercase:

[0247] Sorghum, No CPP: TCTGGTACGACAGTC (SEQ ID NO: 161)

[0248] Sorghum, CPP1 : TCTGGTACGACAGTCIliilrrrirkqahahsk (SEQ ID NO: 179)

[0249] Sorghum, CPP2: TCTGGTACGACAGTCklalkalkalkaalkla (SEQ ID NO: 180)

[0250] Sorghum, CPP3: TCTGGTACGACAGTCkklfkkilkylkklfkkilkylkkkkkkkk (SEQ ID NO: 181) Sorghum, CPP4: TCTGGTACGACAGTCdpkgdpkgvtvtvtvtvtgkgdpkpd (SEQ ID NO: 182) Sorghum, CPP5: TCTGGTACGACAGTCIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 177)

[0251] Sorghum, CPP6: TCTGGTACGACAGTCrrrrrrrrr (SEQ ID NO: 183)

[0252] Conyza, No CPP: TCACCAGCATTTACA (SEQ ID NO: 137)

[0253] Conyza, CPP1 : TCACCAGCATTTACAIliilrrrirkqahahsk (SEQ ID NO: 184)

[0254] Conyza, CPP2: TCACCAGCATTTACAklalkalkalkaalkla (SEQ ID NO: 185)

[0255] Conyza, CPP3: TCACCAGCATTTACAkklfkkilkylkklfkkilkylkkkkkkkk (SEQ ID NO: 186)

[0256] Conyza, CPP4: TCACCAGCATTTACAdpkgdpkgvtvtvtvtvtgkgdpkpd (SEQ ID NO: 187)

[0257] Conyza, CPP5: TCACCAGCATTTACAIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 188)

[0258] Conyza, CPP6: TCACCAGCATTTACArrrrrrrrr (SEQ ID NO: 189)

[0259] Amaranthus, No CPP: AATCTGTAATCTGTA (SEQ ID NO: 34)

[0260] Amaranthus, CPP1 : AATCTGTAATCTGTAIliilrrrirkqahahsk (SEQ ID NO: 190)

[0261] Amaranthus, CPP2: AATCTGTAATCTGTAklalkalkalkaalkla (SEQ ID NO: 191)

[0262] Amaranthus, CPP3: AATCTGTAATCTGTAkklfkkilkylkklfkkilkylkkkkkkkk (SEQ ID NO: 192) Amaranthus, CPP4: AATCTGTAATCTGTAdpkgdpkgvtvtvtvtvtgkgdpkpd (SEQ ID NO: 193) Amaranthus, CPP5: AATCTGTAATCTGTAIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 194) Amaranthus, CPP6: AATCTGTAATCTGTArrrrrrrrr (SEQ ID NO: 195) Incubation: Plants were incubated inside a growth chamber. A humidifier was inside the chamber and set to low and continuous humidity (filled with tap water). The temperature was D: 24-20 °C I N: 20-18 °C with 10 hours of light. Watering occurred 2 times a week by subirrigation with the tray being flooded.

[0263] Survival Rating: Plants were rated for the biologic decay severity at the end of the two-week experiment with the aim of determining the effects.

[0264] Data analysis: data presented for each treatment correspond to the mean + SD across data obtained for three experimental runs of ten biological replicates each. Percent decay severity (%DS) was determined by the percent area of plant foliage with symptoms including necrosis, lesions, chlorosis and wilting. Treatments were compared to the untreated plants.

[0265] The results are summarized on Figure 4.

[0266] Example 5: Fallow CPP-PNA test

[0267] Plant tissue: Sorghum halepense, Amaranthus hybridus, and Conyza canadensis seedlings were seeded then thinned to one plant per pot. Plants were grown at 23°C with 10 hours of light each 24-hour period. Plants were watered 2 times a week.

[0268] Treatment of Plants: Whole plants with a height of 6 cm were sprayed with different PNA-based fallow herbicide formulations, intended to be effective towards multiple plant species. These formulations included different combinations of either 2 or 3 PNA-CPPs, with each at a 50 p M concentration. A concentration of 0.02% - 0.07 % Silwett-77 was added as a spreaderto the PNA solutions. Each treatment was applied to ten individual plants (biological replicates) per experimental run. The entire experiment was independently repeated three times.

[0269] The PNA-CPP sequences used in the different formulations were as follows, where PNA monomers are indicated in uppercase and amino acid residues belonging to the CPP are denoted in lowercase:

[0270] Formulation 1 :

[0271] PNA-A: TCTGGTACGACAGTCIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 177)

[0272] PNA-B: CCCATAGGCCAGAGCilrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 196)

[0273] Formulation 2:

[0274] PNA-C: CAACGGCGGAGGAGAIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 197)

[0275] PNA-D: AGGTTTTTGACAAATIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 198)

[0276] PNA-E: TTCTATTGCTTCTTCIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 199)

[0277] Formulation 3: PNA-F: CTTTCCCGAAAAACAIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 200)

[0278] PNA-G: TTTTCTTACAAATGGIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 201)

[0279] PNA-H: AAACCCTAATATTTTIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 202)

[0280] Formulation 4:

[0281] PNA-I: GACTGCATGTAGATAIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 203)

[0282] PNA-J: GCGATCTTTCATCATIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 204)

[0283] PNA-K: AGCTCTCAACAATAGIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 205)

[0284] Formulation 5:

[0285] PNA-L: TTTTCCAGCGGCACGIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 206) PNA-M: GGATATATATATGCCIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 207) PNA-N: TTTGCAGACAAGGAGIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 208)

[0286] Incubation: Plants were incubated inside a growth chamber. A humidifier was inside the chamber and set to low and continuous humidity (filled with tap water). The temperature was D: 24-20 °C I N: 20-18 °C with 10 hours of light. Watering occurred 2 times a week by subirrigation with the tray being flooded.

[0287] Survival Rating: Plants were rated for the biologic decay severity at the end of the two-week experiment with the aim of determining the effects.

[0288] Data analysis: data presented for each treatment correspond to the mean + SD across data obtained for three experimental runs of ten biological replicates each. Percent decay severity (%DS) was determined by the percent area of plant foliage with symptoms including necrosis, lesions, chlorosis and wilting. Treatments were compared to the untreated plants.

[0289] The results are summarized on Figure 5.

[0290] Example 6: Specificity test against crops of economic interest

[0291] Plant tissue: Conyza canadensis, Triticum aestivum, and Glycine max seedlings, were seeded then thinned to one plant per pot. Plants were grown at 23°C with 10 hours of light each 24-hour period. Plants were watered 2 times a week.

[0292] Treatment of Plants: Whole plants with a height of 6 cm were sprayed with different CPP-PNA solutions at 100 pM concentration, each comprising a different PNA sequence directed against specific essential genes in Conyza canadensis and linked to a cell penetrating peptide (CPP) Additionally, a PNA-CPP peptide containing a scrambled PNA sequence (scPNA) was also assayed as a negative control. A concentration of 0.02% - 0.07 % Silwett-77 was added as a spreader to the PNA solutions. Each treatment was applied to ten individual plants (biological replicates) per experimental run. The entire experiment was independently repeated three times. The PNA-CPP sequences used (SEQ ID NO: 209-213) were as follows, where PNA monomers are indicated in uppercase and amino acid residues belonging to the CPP are denoted in lowercase: scPNA: TTACTTCTCCACTACIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 209)

[0293] PNA1 : CACTCTCTTTCACTAIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 210)

[0294] PNA2: AATCAGGGTTTAAATIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 211)

[0295] PNA3: GTAAACTACAATATTIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 212)

[0296] PNA4: AAAATCATTTCATTTIIrhlrrhirrarrhirr (SEQ ID NO: 213)

[0297] Incubation: Plants were incubated inside a growth chamber. A humidifier was inside the chamber and set to low and continuous humidity (filled with tap water). The temperature was D: 24-20 °C I N: 20-18 °C with 10 hours of light. Watering occurred 2 times a week by subirrigation with the tray being flooded.

[0298] Survival Rating: Plants were rated for the biologic decay severity at the end of the two-week experiment with the aim of determining the effects.

[0299] Data analysis: data presented for each treatment correspond to the mean + SD across data obtained for three experimental runs of ten biological replicates each. Percent decay severity (%DS) was determined by the percent area of plant foliage with symptoms including necrosis, lesions, chlorosis and wilting. Treatments were compared to the untreated plants.

[0300] The results are summarized on Figure 6.

[0301] LIST OF SEQUENCES

[0302]

[0303]

Claims

CLAIMS1. An herbicidal Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA) that targets the transcription start site (TSS) of an essential gene of an agronomically relevant weed, comprising a sequence having between 10-20 contiguous bases from any one contiguous segment of the coding DNA strand of the target gene, ranging from 100 bases downstream to 100 bases upstream of the TSS of said target gene.

2. An herbicidal PNA that targets an mRNA of an essential protein of an agronomically relevant weed, comprising between 10-20 contiguous bases that are complementary to• any one contiguous segment located within the 100 bases at the 5’ end of the target mRNA, or• any one contiguous segment ranging from 100 bases downstream to 100 bases upstream of the start codon of the target mRNA.

3. The herbicidal PNA of any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the PNA targets any one sequence selected from:• a target TSS comprising a sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 303-317,• a target mRNA comprising a sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 318-332, or• a target mRNA comprising a sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 333-347.

4. The herbicidal PNA of any one of the preceding claims, comprising any one of the sequences as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1-165.

5. The PNA of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the PNA silences, knocks down, downregulates or modulates negatively at least one target gene or mRNA, from a pest plant of the genus selected from selected from Abutilon spp., Acanthospermum spp., Acicarpha spp., Aeschynomene spp., Agrosthemna spp., Alopecurus spp., Alternanthera spp., Amaranthus spp., Ambrosia spp., Ammi spp., Anoda spp., Anthemis spp., Artemisia spp., Avena spp., AzoIla spp., Baccharis spp., Bassia spp., Beckmannia spp., Bidens spp., Bowlesia spp., Bromus spp., Capsella spp., Carduus spp., Centaurea spp., Oestrum spp., Chenopodium spp., Chloris spp., Chondrilla spp., Cirsium spp., Commelina spp., Convolvulus spp., Conyza spp., Cucumis spp., Cucurbita spp., Cynara spp., Cynodon spp., Cyperus spp., Datura spp., Daucus spp., Digitaria spp., Diplotaxis spp., Distichlis spp., Dysphania spp., Echinochloa spp., Echinodorus spp., Echium spp., Ehrharta spp., Eleocharis spp., Eleusine spp., Eragrostis spp., Erodium spp, Eryngium spp., Euphorbia spp., Flaveria spp., Fumaria spp., Galinsoga spp., Galium spp., Gnaphalium spp., Gomphrena spp., Hirschfeldia spp., Hybanthus spp., Hymenachne spp., Hypochaeris spp., Hypochaeris spp., Ibicella spp., Ipomoea spp., Iresine spp., Juncus spp., Lactuca spp., Lamium spp., Lepidium spp., Leptochloa spp., Limnobium spp., Lolium spp., Ludwigia spp., Luziola spp., Lysimachia spp., Malvastrum spp., Matricaria spp., Nicotiana spp.,Nymphoides spp., Onopordum spp., Panicum spp., Parietaria spp., Pascalia spp., Paspalum spp., Petunia spp., Physalis spp., Plantago spp., Pluchea spp., Polygonum spp., Pontederia spp., Portulaca spp., Raphanus spp., Rapistrum spp., Richardia spp. Rumex spp., Sagittaria spp., Salsola spp., Schkuhria spp., Scirpus spp., Sesbania spp., Setaria spp., Sida spp., Silene spp., Sisymbrium spp., Solanum spp., Solidago spp., Sonchus spp., Sorghum spp., Steinchisma spp., Stellaria spp., Stipa spp., Tagetes spp., Taraxacum spp., Thalia spp., Tribulus spp., Urochloa spp, Verbena spp., Verbesina spp., Veronica spp., Vicia spp., Viola spp., and Xanthium spp.

6. The herbicidal PNA of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the PNA targets at least one gene or mRNA involved in an essential metabolic role, stress response, or in a defense response pathway selected from, but not limited to, the primary and secondary sulfate pathways, the auxin biosynthesis pathways (such as the lAOx pathway, TAA / YUC pathway, IPA pathway, and iaaM I iaaH pathway), the shikimate pathway, the nitrate assimilation pathway, the GS / GOGAT assimilation pathway, the aspartic acid metabolic pathway, the SOS pathway, the ABA signaling pathway, the JA signaling pathway, ethylene-signaling pathway, the chlorophyll synthesis pathway, the Krebs cycle pathway, the mitochondrial and chloroplast electron transport chains, antioxidant pathways, the Calvin cycle pathway, the flavine synthesis pathway, diacylglycerol and triacylglycerol synthesis pathways, the phosphatidylglycerol synthesis pathway.

7. The herbicidal PNA of claim 5, wherein the PNA targets at least one gene or mRNA selected from 1-Acyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase, 30S ribosomal protein S1 , 3-Oxoacyl-(acyl carrier protein) synthase II, 3-oxoacyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] reductase, 50S ribosomal protein L10, Bifunctional riboflavin kinase / FMN adenylyltransferase, c-Type cytochrome biogenesis protein, Cytochrome c biogenesis protein-like, F0F1 ATP synthase subunit B', Ferredoxin, Ferredoxin- NADP oxido reductase, Iron-regulated ABC transporter permease protein SufD, Mg- protoporphyrin IX methyl transferase, Phosphoglycerate mutase, Photosystem I reaction center subunit II, Ribose-5-phosphate isomerase A, Ribose-phosphate pyrophosphokinase, Ribulose 1 ,5-bisphosphate carboxylase small subunit, Shikimate kinase, EMB514, endoplasmic reticulum auxin binding protein 1 , mitochondrial biotin synthase, topoisomerase 6 subunit B, TRAUCO, thioredoxin-like fold domain-containing protein MRL7, nuclear export mediator factor Nemf , DNA Gyrase A, protein LHCP TRANSLOCATION DEFECT, Sec-independent periplasmic protein translocase TATC, chloroplastic anthranilate phosphoribosyltransferase, and cytochrome c biogenesis protein CCS1 , or their corresponding mRNA.

8. An herbicidal peptide construct comprising a PNA of any one of claims 1-7 fused or linked to• a cell penetrating peptide, or• a location signal peptide (LSP), wherein the CPP or the LSP is fused or linked to the N-terminus or the C-terminus of the PNA.

9. The herbicidal peptide construct of claim 8, consisting of a Peptide Assisted Nucleic Analog (PANA) comprising a PNA of any one of claims 1-7, and• a cel I- penetrating peptide (CPP) of any one of SEQ ID NO: 214-227 and 297-302, and• a location signal peptide (LSP) of SEQ ID NO: 228-274, wherein the PNA, CPP and LSP are contiguously linked or fused to each other.

10. The herbicidal peptide construct from any one of claims 8-9, further comprising a linker sequence of SEQ ID NO: 275-282 or a cleavage sequence of SEQ ID NO: 283-296.11 . An herbicide composition comprising at least one herbicide peptide construct of any one of claims 8-10, and at least one compound is selected from• a lipidic system selected from any one of C12-200, CKK-E12, DLin-KC2-DMA, DLin-MC3- DMA, 1-2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSCP), cholesterol, PEG-2000-C- DMG, PEG-2000-DMG, DOTMA, DOTAP, H / SM-102, and ALC-0315;• a polymeric system selected from any one of Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)(PLGA), Polyethylenimine (PEI), Poly(L-lysine)(PLL), Poly(betaamino ester)s (PBAEs), Hyperbranched PBAE (hPBAE), and Charge-altering releasable transporter (CART), Poly(amidoamine)(PAMAM);• a lipid-polymer hybrid system selected from any one of PEG-DMPE, DSPE-PEG-NH2, DSPE-PEG-SH, and• an inorganic system selected from any one of gold nanoparticles, Iron oxide nanoparticles, Calcium phosphate nanoparticles, Mesoporous silica nanoparticles, Chitosan nanoparticles, and layered double-hydroxide clay nanosheets (LDH).

12. The herbicide composition of claim 11 , comprising 0.01-500 pM of at least one herbicidal peptide construct of any one of claims 8-10.

13. The herbicide composition of any one of claims 11-12, further comprising at least one agronomically suitable excipient selected from surfactants, polar or non-polar solvents, pH adjusters, antioxidants, preservatives, adhesives, wetting agents, stabilizers, propellants, chelating agents, and / or dispersant agents, among others.

14. The herbicide composition of any one of claims 11-13, wherein an effective amount of said composition is applied to a plant of the genus selected from Abutilon spp., Acanthospermum spp., Acicarpha spp., Aeschynomene spp., Agrosthemna spp., Alopecurus spp., Alternanthera spp., Amaranthus spp., Ambrosia spp., Ammi spp., Anoda spp., Anthemis spp., Artemisia spp., Avena spp., AzoIla spp., Baccharis spp., Bassia spp., Beckmannia spp., Bidens spp., Bowlesia spp., Bromus spp., Capsella spp., Carduus spp., Centaurea spp., Oestrum spp., Chenopodium spp., Chloris spp., Chondrilla spp., Cirsium spp., Commelina spp., Convolvulus spp., Conyza spp., Cucumis spp., Cucurbita spp., Cynara spp., Cynodon spp., Cyperus spp., Datura spp., Daucusspp., Digitaria spp., Diplotaxis spp., Distichlis spp., Dysphania spp., Echinochloa spp., Echinodorus spp., Echium spp., Ehrharta spp., Eleocharis spp., Eleusine spp., Eragrostis spp., Erodium spp, Eryngium spp., Euphorbia spp., Flaveria spp., Fumaria spp., Galinsoga spp., Galium spp., Gnaphalium spp., Gomphrena spp., Hirschfeldia spp., Hybanthus spp., Hymenachne spp., Hypochaeris spp., Hypochaeris spp., Ibicella spp., Ipomoea spp., Iresine spp., Juncus spp., Lactuca spp., Lamium spp., Lepidium spp., Leptochloa spp., Limnobium spp., Lolium spp., Ludwigia spp., Luziola spp., Lysimachia spp., Malvastrum spp., Matricaria spp., Nicotiana spp., Nymphoides spp., Onopordum spp., Panicum spp., Parietaria spp., Pascalia spp., Paspalum spp., Petunia spp., Physalis spp., Plantago spp., Pluchea spp., Polygonum spp., Pontederia spp., Portulaca spp., Raphanus spp., Rapistrum spp., Richardia spp. Rumex spp., Sagittaria spp., Salsola spp., Schkuhria spp., Scirpus spp., Sesbania spp., Setaria spp., Sida spp., Silene spp., Sisymbrium spp., Solanum spp., Solidago spp., Sonchus spp., Sorghum spp., Steinchisma spp., Stellaria spp., Stipa spp., Tagetes spp., Taraxacum spp., Thalia spp., Tribulus spp., Urochloa spp, Verbena spp., Verbesina spp., Veronica spp., Vicia spp., Viola spp., and Xanthium spp.

15. A method of controlling a plant pest, comprising the steps of a) providing a composition of any one of claims 11-14, b) applying an effective amount of said composition to a target pest plant.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein step b) comprises applying an effective amount of a composition of any one of claims 11-14 to a plant selected from Abutilon spp., Acanthospermum spp., Acicarpha spp., Aeschynomene spp., Agrosthemna spp., Alopecurus spp., Alternanthera spp., Amaranthus spp., Ambrosia spp., Ammi spp., Anoda spp., Anthemis spp., Artemisia spp., Avena spp., AzoIla spp., Baccharis spp., Bassia spp., Beckmannia spp., Bidens spp., Bowlesia spp., Bromus spp., Capsella spp., Carduus spp., Centaurea spp., Oestrum spp., Chenopodium spp., Chloris spp., Chondrilla spp., Cirsium spp., Commelina spp., Convolvulus spp., Conyza spp., Cucumis spp., Cucurbita spp., Cynara spp., Cynodon spp., Cyperus spp., Datura spp., Daucus spp., Digitaria spp., Diplotaxis spp., Distichlis spp., Dysphania spp., Echinochloa spp., Echinodorus spp., Echium spp., Ehrharta spp., Eleocharis spp., Eleusine spp., Eragrostis spp., Erodium spp, Eryngium spp., Euphorbia spp., Flaveria spp., Fumaria spp., Galinsoga spp., Galium spp., Gnaphalium spp., Gomphrena spp., Hirschfeldia spp., Hybanthus spp., Hymenachne spp., Hypochaeris spp., Hypochaeris spp., Ibicella spp., Ipomoea spp., Iresine spp., Juncus spp., Lactuca spp., Lamium spp., Lepidium spp., Leptochloa spp., Limnobium spp., Lolium spp., Ludwigia spp., Luziola spp., Lysimachia spp., Malvastrum spp., Matricaria spp., Nicotiana spp., Nymphoides spp., Onopordum spp., Panicum spp., Parietaria spp., Pascalia spp., Paspalum spp., Petunia spp., Physalis spp., Plantago spp., Pluchea spp., Polygonum spp., Pontederia spp., Portulaca spp., Raphanus spp., Rapistrum spp., Richardia spp. Rumex spp., Sagittaria spp., Salsola spp., Schkuhria spp., Scirpus spp., Sesbania spp., Setaria spp., Sida spp., Silene spp., Sisymbrium spp., Solanum spp., Solidago spp., Sonchus spp., Sorghum spp.,Steinchisma spp., Stellaria spp., Stipa spp., Tagetes spp., Taraxacum spp., Thalia spp., Tribulus spp., Urochloa spp, Verbena spp., Verbesina spp., Veronica spp., Vicia spp., Viola spp., and Xanthium spp.

17. Use of a PNA according to any one of claims 1-7 for controlling a plant pest.

18. The use of a PNA according to claim 15, wherein the plant pest is selected from the genus Abutilon spp., Acanthospermum spp., Acicarpha spp., Aeschynomene spp., Agrosthemna spp., Alopecurus spp., Alternanthera spp., Amaranthus spp., Ambrosia spp., Ammi spp., Anoda spp., Anthemis spp., Artemisia spp., Avena spp., AzoIla spp., Baccharis spp., Bassia spp., Beckmannia spp., Bidens spp., Bowlesia spp., Bromus spp., Capsella spp., Carduus spp., Centaurea spp., Oestrum spp., Chenopodium spp., Chloris spp., Chondrilla spp., Cirsium spp., Commelina spp., Convolvulus spp., Conyza spp., Cucumis spp., Cucurbita spp., Cynara spp., Cynodon spp., Cyperus spp., Datura spp., Daucus spp., Digitaria spp., Diplotaxis spp., Distichlis spp., Dysphania spp., Echinochloa spp., Echinodorus spp., Echium spp., Ehrharta spp., Eleocharis spp., Eleusine spp., Eragrostis spp., Erodium spp, Eryngium spp., Euphorbia spp., Flaveria spp., Fumaria spp., Galinsoga spp., Galium spp., Gnaphalium spp., Gomphrena spp., Hirschfeldia spp., Hybanthus spp., Hymenachne spp., Hypochaeris spp., Hypochaeris spp., Ibicella spp., Ipomoea spp., Iresine spp., Juncus spp., Lactuca spp., Lamium spp., Lepidium spp., Leptochloa spp., Limnobium spp., Lolium spp., Ludwigia spp., Luziola spp., Lysimachia spp., Malvastrum spp., Matricaria spp., Nicotiana spp., Nymphoides spp., Onopordum spp., Panicum spp., Parietaria spp., Pascalia spp., Paspalum spp., Petunia spp., Physalis spp., Plantago spp., Pluchea spp., Polygonum spp., Pontederia spp., Portulaca spp., Raphanus spp., Rapistrum spp., Richardia spp. Rumex spp., Sagittaria spp., Salsola spp., Schkuhria spp., Scirpus spp., Sesbania spp., Setaria spp., Sida spp., Silene spp., Sisymbrium spp., Solanum spp., Solidago spp., Sonchus spp., Sorghum spp., Steinchisma spp., Stellaria spp., Stipa spp., Tagetes spp., Taraxacum spp., Thalia spp., Tribulus spp., Urochloa spp, Verbena spp., Verbesina spp., Veronica spp., Vicia spp., Viola spp., and Xanthium spp.

19. A method for silencing, knocking down, downregulating or modulating negatively the expression of at least one target gene, comprising the steps of a) providing a PNA of any one of claims 1-7 or a peptide construct of any one of claims 8- 10, b) introducing the PNA of any one of claims 1-7 or the peptide construct of any one of claims 8-10 into a target cell comprising at least one target gene or mRNA.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the target is a gene or mRNA involved in an essential metabolic role, stress response, or in a defense response pathway selected from, but not limited to, the primary and secondary sulfate pathways, the auxin biosynthesis pathways (such as the lAOx pathway, TAA / YUC pathway, IPA pathway, and iaaM / iaaH pathway), the shikimate pathway,the nitrate assimilation pathway, the GS / GOGAT assimilation pathway, the aspartic acid metabolic pathway, the SOS pathway, the ABA signaling pathway, the JA signaling pathway, ethylene-signaling pathway, the chlorophyll synthesis pathway, the Krebs cycle pathway, the mitochondrial and chloroplast electron transport chains, antioxidant pathways, the Calvin cycle pathway, the flavine synthesis pathway, diacylglycerol and triacylglycerol synthesis pathways, the phosphatidylglycerol synthesis pathway.21 . The method of any one of claims 19-20, wherein the target cell is a plant cell of a genus selected from Abutilon spp., Acanthospermum spp., Acicarpha spp., Aeschynomene spp., Agrosthemna spp., Alopecurus spp., Alternanthera spp., Amaranthus spp., Ambrosia spp., Ammi spp., Anoda spp., Anthemis spp., Artemisia spp., Avena spp., AzoIla spp., Baccharis spp., Bassia spp., Beckmannia spp., Bidens spp., Bowlesia spp., Bromus spp., Capsella spp., Carduus spp., Centaurea spp., Oestrum spp., Chenopodium spp., Chloris spp., Chondrilla spp., Cirsium spp., Commelina spp., Convolvulus spp., Conyza spp., Cucumis spp., Cucurbita spp., Cynara spp., Cynodon spp., Cyperus spp., Datura spp., Daucus spp., Digitaria spp., Diplotaxis spp., Distichlis spp., Dysphania spp., Echinochloa spp., Echinodorus spp., Echium spp., Ehrharta spp., Eleocharis spp., Eleusine spp., Eragrostis spp., Erodium spp, Eryngium spp., Euphorbia spp., Flaveria spp., Fumaria spp., Galinsoga spp., Galium spp., Gnaphalium spp., Gomphrena spp., Hirschfeldia spp., Hybanthus spp., Hymenachne spp., Hypochaeris spp., Hypochaeris spp., Ibicella spp., Ipomoea spp., Iresine spp., Juncus spp., Lactuca spp., Lamium spp., Lepidium spp., Leptochloa spp., Limnobium spp., Lolium spp., Ludwigia spp., Luziola spp., Lysimachia spp., Malvastrum spp., Matricaria spp., Nicotiana spp., Nymphoides spp., Onopordum spp., Panicum spp., Parietaria spp., Pascalia spp., Paspalum spp., Petunia spp., Physalis spp., Plantago spp., Pluchea spp., Polygonum spp., Pontederia spp., Portulaca spp., Raphanus spp., Rapistrum spp., Richardia spp. Rumex spp., Sagittaria spp., Salsola spp., Schkuhria spp., Scirpus spp., Sesbania spp., Setaria spp., Sida spp., Silene spp., Sisymbrium spp., Solanum spp., Solidago spp., Sonchus spp., Sorghum spp., Steinchisma spp., Stellaria spp., Stipa spp., Tagetes spp., Taraxacum spp., Thalia spp., Tribulus spp., Urochloa spp, Verbena spp., Verbesina spp., Veronica spp., Vicia spp., Viola spp., and Xanthium spp.

Images