Evaluation of metabolic detoxifying enzyme activities and insecticide resistance in Frankliniella occidentalis

Physiological Differences Between Seasonal Dimorphs of Agonoscena pistaciae (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae) Elicit Distinct Host Plant Responses, Informing Novel Pest Management Insights

We examined differences in the physiology and life history between dimorphs of the common pistachio psyllid, Agonoscena pistaciae (Burckhardt and Lauterer) (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae), and how they differ in elicitating host plant production of key metabolites and volatile compounds involved in the recruitment of herbivores and natural enemies. Summer morphs had higher activities of glutathione S-transferase, carboxylesterase, acetylcholinesterase, and cytochrome P450 monooxygenase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, phenoloxidase, and a higher total protein content compared to winter morphs, whereas the latter had higher amounts of lipid, carbohydrate, and glycogen. Winter morphs were heavier, with a higher chitin content and longer preoviposition period, but greater fecundity and longevity than summer morphs. A lower LC50 to thiamethoxam for winter morphs resulted in higher mortality following exposure to the recommended rate of this insecticide in a greenhouse trial. Feeding by winter morphs elicited more strongly the release of volatile compounds known to be attractive to other herbivores, whereas feeding by summer morphs elicited more strongly the release of volatiles implicated in the attraction of natural enemies. Feeding by psyllids increased the concentrations of nitrogenous compounds, carbohydrates, vitamins, and amino acids in plants, the winter morph eliciting larger changes and more improved host plant quality. We conclude that winter morphs are more vulnerable targets for chemical control in early spring, whereas management of summer morphs could rely more on conservation biological control.

Uncoupler SYP-14288 inducing multidrug resistance of Phytophthora capsici through overexpression of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases and P-glycoprotein

BACKGROUND

Fungicide resistance has become a serious problem for different mode of action groups except for uncouplers, which makes their resistance mechanism a hot topic, which until now, has not been well clarified. SYP-14288, a newly developed diarylamine fungicide modeled on fluazinam, has shown good toxicity to both oomycete and fungus by the action of uncoupling. In this research, the resistance of Phytophthora capsici to SYP-14288 was studied to clarify the resistance mechanism of uncouplers.

RESULTS

The toxicity tests of resistant strains against SYP-14288 showed multidrug resistance. The high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) results showed that resistant strains could efflux the fungicide, and this ability could be inhibited by the efflux pump inhibitor amitriptyline. The target protein of amitriptyline is P-glycoprotein (P-gp), which was overexpressed in resistant strains. Three products of nitrate reduction of SYP-14288 were detected and determined by HPLC-Q-TOF. Eight cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (P450) proteins were differentially involved in the reduction reaction.

CONCLUSION

Both fungicide efflux and detoxification metabolism were involved in the resistance mechanisms of P. capsici to SYP-14288. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Molecular characterisation of two α-esterase genes involving chlorpyrifos detoxification in the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella

BACKGROUND

Carboxylesterases (CarEs) are involved in metabolic detoxification of dietary and environmental xenobiotics in insects. However, owing to the complexity of the protein family, the involvement of CarEs in insecticide metabolism in Plutella xylostella has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to characterise two CarE genes and assess their potential roles in response to chlorpyrifos in P. xylostella.

RESULTS

Synergistic tests showed that triphenyl phosphate decreased the resistance of the third-instar larvae to chlorpyrifos. The treatment of the third-instar larvae with chlorpyrifos at the LC₃₀ dose led to a significant increase in CarE activity. Two CarE cDNAs (Pxae18 and Pxae28) were subsequently sequenced and characterised. Both genes were expressed predominantly in the larval midgut. Most importantly, two CarE genes showed significantly higher expression in the chlorpyrifos-resistant strain than in the susceptible strain. RNAi knockdown of Pxae18 and Pxae28 significantly increased the mortality to chlorpyrifos from 40% in the control to 73.8 and 63.3% respectively.

CONCLUSION

RNAi knockdown of Pxae18 and Pxae28 significantly inhibited detoxification ability and increased the mortality in P. xylostella. The results indicate that these two CarE genes play important roles in the detoxification of chlorpyrifos in P. xylostella. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Thiamethoxam resistance selected in the western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae): cross-resistance patterns, possible biochemical mechanisms and fitness costs analysis

The western flower thrips (WFT) Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), an important pest of various crops in the world, has invaded China since 2003. To understand the risks and to determine possible mechanisms of resistance to thiamethoxam in WFT, a resistant strain was selected under the laboratory conditions. Cross-resistance and the possible biochemical resistance mechanisms were investigated in this study. A 15.1-fold thiamethoxam-resistant WFT strain (TH-R) was established after selection for 55 generations. Compared with the susceptible strain (TH-S), the selected TH-R strain showed extremely high level cross-resistance to imidaclothiz (392.1-fold) and low level cross-resistance to dinotefuran (5.7-fold), acetamiprid (2.9-fold) and emamectin benzoate (2.1-fold), respectively. No cross-resistance to other fourteen insecticides was detected. Synergism tests showed that piperonyl butoxide (PBO) and triphenyl phosphate (TPP) produced a high synergism of thiamethoxam effects in the TH-R strain (2.6- and 2.6-fold respectively). However, diethyl maleate (DEM) did not act synergistically with thiamethoxam. Biochemical assays showed that mixed function oxidase (MFO) activities and carboxylesterase (CarE) activity of the TH-R strain were 2.8- and 1.5-fold higher than that of the TH-S strain, respectively. When compared with the TH-S strain, the TH-R strain had a relative fitness of 0.64. The results show that WFT develops resistance to thiamethoxam after continuous application and thiamethoxam resistance had considerable fitness costs in the WFT. It appears that enhanced metabolism mediated by cytochrome P450 monooxygenases and CarE was a major mechanism for thiamethoxam resistance in the WFT. The use of cross-resistance insecticides, including imidaclothiz and dinotefuran, should be avoided for sustainable resistance management.

Purification, characterization, and sensitivity to pesticides of carboxylesterase from Dendrolimus superans (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae)

Through a combination of steps including centrifugation, ammonium sulfate gradient precipitation, sephadex G-25 gel chromatography, diethylaminoethyl cellulose 52 ion-exchange chromatography and hydroxyapatite affinity chromatography, carboxylesterase (CarE, EC3.1.1.1) from sixth instar larch caterpillar moth, Dendrolimus superans (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) larvae was purified and its biochemical properties were compared between crude homogenate and purified CarE. The final purified CarE after hydroxyapatite chromatography had a specific activity of 52.019 μmol/(min·mg protein), 138.348-fold of crude homogenate, and the yield of 2.782%. The molecular weight of the purified CarE was approximately 84.78 kDa by SDS-PAGE. Three pesticides (dichlorvos, lambda-cyhalothrin, and avermectins) showed different inhibition to crude CarE and purified CarE, respectively. In vitro median inhibitory concentration indicated that the sensitivity of CarE (both crude homogenate and final purified CarE) to pesticides was in decreasing order of dichlorvos > avermectins > lambda-cyhalothrin. By the kinetic analysis, the substrates alpha-naphthyl acetate (α-NA) and beta-naphthyl acetate (β-NA) showed lesser affinity to crude extract than purified CarE. The results also indicated that both crude homogenate and purified CarE had more affinity to α-NA than to β-NA, and the Kcat and Vmax values of crude extract were lower than purified CarE using α-NA or β-NA as substrate.

Spatial distribution and esterase activity in populations of Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Linnaeus) (Diptera: Culicidae) resistant to temephos

INTRODUCTION

The need for studies that describe the resistance patterns in populations of Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) in function of their region of origin justified this research, which aimed to characterize the resistance to temephos and to obtain information on esterase activity in populations of Aedes aegypti collected in municipalities of the State of Paraíba.

METHODS

Resistance to temephos was evaluated and characterized from the diagnostic dose of 0.352mg i.a./L and multiple concentrations that caused mortalities between 5% and 99%. Electrophoresis of isoenzymes was used to verify the patterns of esterase activity among populations of the vector.

RESULTS

All populations of Aedes aegypti were resistant to temephos, presenting a resistance rate (RR) greater than 20. The greatest lethal dose 50% of the sample (CL50) was found for the municipality of Lagoa Seca, approximately forty-one times the value of CL50 for the Rockefeller population. The populations characterized as resistant showed two to six regions of α and β-esterase, called EST-1 to EST-6, while the susceptible population was only seen in one region of activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Aedes aegypti is widely distributed and shows a high degree of resistance to temephos in all municipalities studied. In all cases, esterases are involved in the metabolism and, consequently, in the resistance to temephos.

Western flower thrips resistance to insecticides: detection, mechanisms and management strategies

Insecticide resistance continues to be one of the most important issues facing agricultural production. The challenges in insecticide resistance and its management are exemplified by the situation with the western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). This highly invasive pest has a great propensity for developing insecticide resistance because of its biological attributes, and cases of resistance to most classes of insecticides used for its management have been detected. To combat insecticide resistance in the western flower thrips, several insecticide resistance management (IRM) programs have been developed around the world, and these are discussed. Successful programs rely on non-insecticidal tactics, such as biological and cultural controls and host plant resistance, to reduce population pressures, rotations among insecticides of different mode of action classes to conserve insecticide efficacy, resistance monitoring, sampling to determine the need for insecticide applications and education to assure proper implementation. More judicious insecticide use is possible with the development of well-founded economic thresholds for more cropping systems. While growers will continue to rely on insecticides as part of western-flower-thrips- and thrips-transmitted virus management, more effective management of these pests will be achieved by considering their management in the context of overall integrated pest management, with IRM being a key component of those comprehensive programs.

Esterase inhibition by synergists in the western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis

BACKGROUND

Western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), is among the most important crop pests in the south-eastern region of Spain. Its increasing resistance to insecticides constitutes a serious problem, and understanding the mechanisms involved is therefore of great interest. Use of synergists to inhibit the enzymes involved in insecticide detoxification is widely used to determine their responsibility for insecticide resistance. However, they do not always act as intended or expected, and caution must be exercised when interpreting synergist results.

RESULTS

Laboratory-selected strains of WFT were used to analyse the effects of the synergists piperonyl butoxide (PBO), S,S,S-tributyl phosphorotrithioate (DEF) and methiocarb on total esterase activity. Significant differences were found, indicating esterase activity inhibition by DEF, a lower effect for methiocarb and a small inhibition of the activity by PBO. Esterase isoenzyme inhibition by these compounds showed a similar result; this assay revealed an extreme sensitivity of Triplet A (resistance-associated esterases) to DEF. In an in vivo assay carried out with these compounds at different incubation times, only DEF caused posterior in vitro esterase activity inhibition, with a maximum effect 1 h after treatment.

CONCLUSION

In this work, only DEF shows true synergistic inhibition of WFT esterases.

Insecticide resistance in field populations of Asian citrus psyllid in Florida

BACKGROUND

Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri, is a major pest of citrus because it vectors the putative causal agent of huanglongbing disease. Insecticides are currently the basis of psyllid management programs, and the number of annual insecticide applications has increased significantly. In this paper, a series of investigations of insecticide resistance among field populations of adult and immature ACP in Florida is described.

RESULTS

In 2009, the highest level of resistance for adult ACP, as compared with the laboratory susceptible (LS) population, was found with imidacloprid with an LD(50) resistance ratio (RR(50) ) of 35 in one population. This was followed by chlorpyriphos (RR(50) = 17.9, 13.3, 11.8 and 6.9), thiamethoxam (RR(50) = 15 and 13), malathion (RR(50) = 5.4 and 5.0) and fenpropathrin (RR(50) = 4.8). In 2010, mortality of adults from all five sites sampled was lower than with the LS population at three diagnostic concentrations of each insecticide tested. Among nymph populations, indications of resistance were observed with carbaryl (RR(50) = 2.9), chlorpyriphos (RR(50) = 3.2), imidacloprid (RR(50) = 2.3 and 3.9) and spinetoram (RR(50) = 4.8 and 5.9). General esterase, glutathione S-transferase and monooxygenase levels were also elevated in field-collected adult and nymph ACP as compared with the LS population.

CONCLUSION

The present results suggest that varying levels of insecticide susceptibility exist in ACP populations across the citrus-growing areas of Florida. Increased levels of detoxifying enzymes in these populations may partially explain these differences. The present results indicate that insecticide resistance may become an emerging problem for ACP control if effective resistance management is not practiced.

Esterase isoenzymes and insecticide resistance in Frankliniella occidentalis populations from the south-east region of Spain

BACKGROUND

Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) is among the most important crop pests in the south-east region of Spain; its increasing resistance to insecticides constitutes a serious problem, and understanding the mechanisms involved is therefore of great interest. To this end, F. occidentalis populations, collected from the field at different locations in south-east Spain, were studied in terms of total esterase activity and esterase isoenzyme pattern.

RESULTS

Individual thrips extracts were analysed by native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and stained for esterase activity with the model substrate alpha-naphthyl acetate. Significant correlations were found between resistance to the insecticides acrinathrin and methiocarb and the presence of a group of three intensely stained bands, named Triplet A. For each individual thrips extract, total esterase activity towards the substrates alpha-naphthyl acetate and alpha-naphthyl butyrate was also measured in a microplate reader. Insects possessing Triplet A showed a significantly higher alpha-naphthyl acetate specific activity and alpha-naphthyl acetate/alpha-naphthyl butyrate activity ratio. This observation allowed a reliable classification of susceptible or resistant insects either by PAGE analysis or by total esterase activity determination.

CONCLUSION

The PAGE and microplate assays described can be used as a monitoring technique for detecting acrinathrin- and methiocarb-resistant individuals among F. occidentalis field populations.

Relationship between esterase activity and acrinathrin and methiocarb resistance in field populations of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis

The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), is a serious pest in the south-east of Spain owing to its direct feeding on crops, transmission of the tomato spotted wilt virus and its very high level of resistance to insecticides. Mechanisms of resistance were examined using field populations of F. occidentalis with different susceptibilities to acrinathrin, methiocarb (selective insecticides), endosulfan, metamidophos and deltamethrin (broad-spectrum insecticides). Esterase activity towards alpha-naphthyl acetate and p-nitrophenyl acetate in resistant strains was significantly higher than in the reference strain (MLFOM) for both model substrates. This higher activity was significantly correlated with acrinathrin and methiocarb resistance.

Metabolic mechanisms of insecticide resistance in the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande)

The interactions between six insecticides (methiocarb, formetanate, acrinathrin, deltamethrin, methamidophos and endosulfan) and three potential synergists (piperonyl butoxide (PBO), S,S,S-tributyl phosphorotrithioate (DEF) and diethyl maleate (DEM)) were studied by topical exposure in strains selected for resistance to each insecticide, and in a susceptible strain of Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande). In the susceptible strain PBO produced appreciable synergism only of formetanate, methiocarb and methamidophos. Except for endosulfan, PBO synergized all the insecticides to varying degrees in the resistant strains. A very high level of synergism by PBO was found with acrinathrin, which reduced the resistance level from 3344- to 36-fold. PBO slightly synergized the carbamates formetanate (4.6-fold) and methiocarb (3.3-fold). PBO also produced a high synergism of deltamethrin (12.5-fold) and methamidophos (14.3-fold) and completely restored susceptibility to both insecticides. DEF did not produce synergism with any insecticide in the resistant strains and DEM was slightly synergistic to endosulfan (3-fold). These studies indicate that an enhanced detoxification, mediated by cytochrome P-450 monooxygenases, is the major mechanism imparting resistance to different insecticides in F occidentalis. Implications of different mechanisms in insecticide resistance in F occidentalis are discussed.