Fitness costs in clothianidin-resistant population of the melon aphid, Aphis gossypii.

Clothianidin is a second-generation neonicotinoid insecticide, widely used against sap-sucking insect pest including melon aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae). This pest causes severe economic damage to Cucurbitaceae plants worldwide. In this study, we investigated clothianidin resistance development under continuous selection pressure. Moreover, the age-stage, two-sex life table approach was used to evaluate the impact of clothianidin resistance on the fitness of A. gossypii. A clothianidin resistant strain (CT-R) with a 23.17-fold resistance level was developed from a susceptible strain (CT-S) after continuous selection for 24 generations. Life table results showed a significant reduction in the relative fitness (0.847) of CT-R strain compared to the CT-S strain of A. gossypii. The developmental duration, oviposition days, total pre-oviposition period (TPOP), longevity, and fecundity of CT-R strain were found to be significantly lower when compared to CT-S strain. The demographic parameters, including the intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), net reproductive rate (R0), and mean generation time (T) were also significantly decreased in CT-R strain compared to the CT-S strain. Both the reproductive and survival rates were affected by clothianidin resistance in CT-R strain compared with the CT-S strain of A. gossypii. Overall, our results demonstrate that in-depth knowledge about the trade-off at play between resistance degree and fitness cost might be useful to design resistance management strategies against A. gossypii.

Fitness costs of sulfoxaflor resistance in the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover.

Aphis gossypii Glover is an economically important pest of numerous crops throughout the world. Some field populations of A.gossypii in China have developed moderate level of resistance to sulfoxaflor, a newly released sulfoximine insecticide for management of sap-feeding pests. To evaluate the effect of sulfoxaflor resistance on the fitness cost of A. gossypii, the life history traits of sulfoxaflor-resistant strain (SulR) and an isogenic susceptible strain (SS) were compared using the age-stage, two-sex life table approach. The results showed that the resistant strain had a reduction in fitness (relative fitness = 0.917), along with significantly decreases in longevity, fecundity, net reproductive (R0), mean generation time (T) and gross reproductive rate (GRR). Compared to the susceptible strain, SulR strain showing a shorter developmental duration of each nymph instar stage. Moreover, the adult pre-oviposition period (APOP) and total preoviposition period (TPOP) of SulR strain were also significantly shorter than that of the susceptible strain. Investigation of six development and reproduction related genes indicated that EcR, USP and JHBP were overexpressed in the SulR strain, while the mRNA transcript level of Vg was decreased significantly compared to the susceptible strain. These results suggest that there is a fitness cost associated with sulfoxaflor resistance in A. gossypii and the different expression of EcR, USP, JHBP, and Vg may play very important role in this trade-off.

Assessment of neuropeptide binding sites and the impact of biostable kinin and CAP2b analogue treatment on aphid (Myzus persicae and Macrosiphum rosae) stress tolerance.

BACKGROUND: Neuropeptides are regulators of critical life processes in insects and, due to their high specificity, represent potential targets in the development of greener insecticidal agents. Fundamental to this drive is understanding neuroendocrine pathways that control key physiological processes in pest insects and the screening of potential analogues. The current study investigated neuropeptide binding sites of kinin and CAPA (CAPA-1) in the aphids Myzus persicae and Macrosiphum rosae and the effect of biostable analogues on aphid fitness under conditions of desiccation, starvation and thermal (cold) stress. RESULTS: M. persicae and M. rosae displayed identical patterns of neuropeptide receptor mapping along the gut, with the gut musculature representing the main target for kinin and CAPA-1 action. While kinin receptor binding was observed in the brain and VNC of M. persicae, this was not observed in M. rosae. Furthermore, no CAPA-1 receptor binding was observed in the brain and VNC of either species. CAP2b/PK analogues (with CAPA receptor cross-activity) were most effective in reducing aphid fitness under conditions of desiccation and starvation stress, particularly analogues 1895 (2Abf-Suc-FGPRLa) and 2129 (2Abf-Suc-ATPRIa), which expedited aphid mortality. All analogues, with the exception of 2139-Ac, were efficient at reducing aphid survival under cold stress, although were equivalent in the strength of their effect. CONCLUSION: In demonstrating the effects of analogues belonging to the CAP2b neuropeptide family and key analogue structures that reduce aphid fitness under stress conditions, this research will feed into the development of second generation analogues and ultimately the development of neuropeptidomimetic-based insecticidal agents. © 2019 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Fitness costs of infection with Serratia symbiotica are associated with greater susceptibility to insecticides in the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum.

BACKGROUND: Aphids are agricultural pests that damage crops by direct feeding and by vectoring important plant viruses. Bacterial symbionts can influence aphid biology, e.g. by providing essential nutrients or facilitating adaptations to biotic and abiotic stress. RESULTS: We investigated the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris) and its commonly associated secondary bacterial symbiont Serratia symbiotica to study the effect of this symbiont on host fitness and susceptibility to the insecticides imidacloprid, chlorpyrifos methyl, methomyl, cyantraniliprole and spirotetramat. There is emerging evidence that members of the genus Serratia can degrade and/or detoxify diverse insecticides. Therefore, we hypothesized that S. symbiotica may promote resistance to these artificial stress agents in aphids. Our results showed that Serratia-infected aphids were more susceptible to most of the tested insecticides than non-infected aphids. This probably reflects the severe fitness costs associated with S. symbiotica, which negatively affects development, reproduction and body weight. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that S. symbiotica plays an important role in the ability of aphid hosts to tolerate insecticides. These results provide insight into the potential changes in tolerance to insecticides in the field because there is a continuous and dynamic process of symbiont acquisition and loss that may directly affect host biology. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Assessment of the Dominance Level of the R81T Target Resistance to Two Neonicotinoid Insecticides in Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae).

Myzus persicae (Sulzer, 1776), a major crop pest worldwide, displays insecticide resistance to most molecules. The R81T substitution on the ß1 subunit of nicotinic receptors of acetylcholine (nAChR) confers target site resistance to neonicotinoids and is widespread in aphid populations colonizing peach tree orchards in Southern Europe. But the impact of this resistance in the field, as well as ways to optimize its management, depends largely on the dominance level of the R81T mutation. In this study, we measured by in vitro assays the response of R81T mutation to two neonicotinoids (imidacloprid and thiacloprid) in 23 M. persicae clones with different resistance genotypes in order to assess the dominance status of this allele. In this study, all homozygous clones for the R81T mutation (genotype 81(TT)) showed a much higher level of resistance to both active substances than other clones. The heterozygous clones 81(RT) displayed a slightly higher level of resistance than wild homozygous, though resistance phenotypes against both neonicotinoids in these two genotypes were overlapping. A great variation of resistance level was found within these two latter clones' categories. The dominance level of insecticide resistance (DLC) strongly suggested that the mutant allele 81T is semirecessive (the wild 81R allele being rather dominant) for both insecticide molecules under test. Mean DLC values were 0.316 for imidacloprid and 0.351 for thiacloprid. Cross-resistance was shown between imidacloprid and thiacloprid. This partial recessivity is valuable information to broaden the knowledge on neonicotinoid resistance, a prerequisite for devising adapted management strategies against insecticide-resistant populations of M. persicae.

Assessment of Sublethal and Transgenerational Effects of Pirimicarb on the Wheat Aphids Rhopalosiphum padi and Sitobion avenae.

The wheat aphids, Rhopalosiphum padi (Linnaeus) and Sitobion avenae (Fabricius), are key pests on wheat crops worldwide. Management practices rely primarily on insecticides. The pirimicarb (carbamate) is used extensively as an effective insecticide to control these two aphids. In addition to the mortality caused by pirimicarb, various sublethal effects may occur in aphids when exposed to low lethal or sublethal doses. Understanding the general effect of pirimicarb on aphids could help increasing rational use of this insecticide. Under laboratory conditions, we assessed the sublethal effects of a low lethal concentration of pirimicarb (LC25) on biological traits and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity of R. padi and S. avenae. Both direct and transgenerational effects, i.e. on parent and the F1 generations were assessed, respectively. We found that R. padi and S. avenae responded differentially to the LC25 of pirimicarb. The parent generation of R. padi showed a 39% decrease in fecundity and multiple transgenerational effects were observed in the F1 generation; overall juvenile development, reproductive period, adult longevity and lifespan were longer than those of the control group. By contrast, LC25 of pirimicarb showed almost no effects on S. avenae biological traits in both the parent and F1 generations; only the pre-reproductive duration was reduced in F1 generations. Demographic parameter estimates (e.g. rm) showed similar trend, i.e. significant negative effect on R. padi population growth and no effect on S. avenae. However, AChE activity decreased in both R. padi and S. avenae treated by the LC25 of pirimicarb. We demonstrated sublethal and transgenerational effects of pirimicarb in the two wheat aphid species; it hinted at the importance of considering sublethal effects (including hormesis) of pirimicarb for optimizing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) of wheat aphids.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) shoot saponins: identification and bio-activity by the assessment of aphid feeding.

Biochemical components in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), such as saponins, can act as protecting factors against bio-stresses. Saponins are also antifeedants and show oral toxicity towards higher and lower animals. Changes in saponins, such as variation in the carbon skeleton, or hydrolysis of saponin glycosides and other conjugates, may change their biological effects. The aims of this research were to study saponin variation in different growth stages of alfalfa and to investigate the biological role of saponins in the spotted alfalfa aphid, Therioaphis maculata. Saponins from alfalfa shoots in different growth stages were extracted, chemically purified and analysed by TLC. Specific saponins such as soyasaponin1 from root and shoot and two bisdesmosides of medicagenic acid, one from shoot and another from root tissues, were identified using reference compounds allowing changes in saponin composition during plant development in different shoot tissues of alfalfa to be assessed. The response of the alfalfa aphid to feeding on alfalfa in different growth stages was studied. No significant difference in the survival of aphids, from neonate to adult, was observed, but due to the antibiotic effects of saponins, two differences were found in the onset of nymph production and cumulative nymph production. The results show that the saponin composition in alfalfa changes with plant development and this, in turn, can often negatively affect the development of specific insect pests such as the spotted alfalfa aphid, suggesting a possible biological role of alfalfa saponins.

Custo adaptativo associado à resistência de Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae) ao inseticida carbosulfam / Fitness cost associated with carbosulfan resistance in Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Com o objetivo de prover subsídios a um programa de manejo de resistência de Aphis gossypii Glover ao carbosulfam, foram avaliados os possíveis custos adaptativos associados a essa resistência em condições laboratoriais. Para tanto, avaliou-se a estabilidade da resistência ao carbosulfam em populações de A. gossypii com diferentes freqüências iniciais de resistência e compararam-se parâmetros biológicos das linhagens suscetível e resistente ao inseticida. A estabilidade da resistência foi avaliada a partir de populações com freqüências iniciais de 20, 50 e 80 por cento de pulgões resistentes ao carbosulfam. A suscetibilidade ao carbosulfam foi estimada mensalmente durante seis meses, utilizando-se de concentração diagnóstica de 32 ppm. A biologia das linhagens suscetível e resistente foi avaliada em plantas de algodão mantidas em condições climáticas controladas. A resistência ao carbosulfam foi instável, ou seja, a suscetibilidade ao inseticida aumentou significativamente em diferentes populações de A. gossypii na ausência de pressão seletiva. Comparações de parâmetros biológicos entre as linhagens suscetível e resistente ao carbosulfam mostraram que há custo adaptativo associado à resistência. A linhagem resistente apresentou menor fecundidade, menor período reprodutivo e menor longevidade do que a linhagem suscetível. A taxa líquida de reprodução (Ro) de 14,04 e 43,18 vezes e razão finita de aumento (lambda) de 1,25 e 1,30 fêmeas/fêmea/dia para as linhagens resistente e suscetível respectivamente. Portanto, a instabilidade da resistência de A. gossypii ao carbosulfam pode ser explorada em programas de manejo da resistência.

[Fitness cost associated with carbosulfan resistance in Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae)]. / Custo adaptativo associado à resistencia de Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae) ao inseticida carbosulfam.

In order to collect basic information for a resistance management program of Aphis gossypii Glover to carbosulfan, studies to evaluate fitness costs associated to this resistance were conducted under laboratory conditions. For this purpose, we studied the stability of carbosulfan resistance in A. gossypii populations with differing initial frequencies of resistance and compared life-history traits of carbosulfan-susceptible and resistant strains. The stability of resistance was followed in three populations with initial frequencies of 20, 50 and 80% of resistant individuals. The susceptibility to carbosulfan was monthly estimated by using the diagnostic concentration of 32 ppm. The biology of carbosulfan-susceptible and resistant strains was evaluated in cotton plants kept under controlled climatic conditions. The resistance to carbosulfan was unstable, that is, there was a significant increase in the susceptibility of different populations of A. gossypii to this insecticide in the absence of selection pressure. Comparison of biological traits between carbosulfan-susceptible and resistant strains showed that there is a fitness cost associated with resistance. The resistant strain showed lower fecundity, shorter reproductive period and lower longevity than the susceptible strain. The net reproductive rate (Ro) was 14.04 and 43.18 and the finite rate of increase (lambda) was 1.25 and 1.30 females/female/day for the resistant and susceptible strains respectively. Therefore, the instability of carbosulfan resistance in A. gossypii can be exploited in resistance management programs.

Response of economically important aphids to components of Hemizygia petiolata essential oil.

The essential oil of Hemizygia petiolata Ashby (Lamiaceae) contains high levels (>70%) of the sesquiterpene (E)-beta-farnesene, the alarm pheromone for many economically important aphid species. In order to test the suitability of H. petiolata oil as a source of (E)-beta-farnesene for use in new integrated aphid control strategies, behavioural responses of pest aphid species were studied in laboratory and field experiments. In alarm pheromone assays the peach-potato aphid, Myzus persicae Sulzer, and the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harr), showed a lower level of response to the oil than expected given the high levels of (E)-beta-farnesene. It was shown that minor components in the oil, (+)-bicyclogermacrene and (-)-germacrene D, caused inhibition of the alarm response for M. persicae and A. pisum respectively. Nevertheless, in olfactometer studies the oil was directly repellent to A. pisum and the grain aphid, Sitobion avenae F. Sitobion avenae was not only repelled by (E)-beta-farnesene but also by (-)-germacrene D. Furthermore, although it was not directly repellent to M. persicae, the oil interfered with its attraction to host plant stimuli. In field plot experiments, numbers of A. pisum were significantly reduced in plots treated with a slow release formulation of the oil, when compared with control plots.

Influence of aphid species and barley yellow dwarf virus on soft red winter wheat yield.

Yield loss in soft red winter wheat, Triticum aestivum L., caused by aphid-transmitted barley yellow dwarf virus (family Luteoviridae, genus Luteovirus, BYDV) was measured over a 2-yr period in central Missouri. Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) was the most common and economically important species, accounting for > 90% of the total aphids. Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch), and Sitobion avenae (F.) made up the remainder of the aphids. Aphid numbers peaked at wheat stem elongation in 2003 with 771 R. padi per meter-row. In the 2003-2004 growing season, aphid numbers averaged seven aphids per meter-row in the fall and peaked at 18 aphids per meter-row at jointing. Wheat grain yield was reduced 17 and 13% in 2003 and 2004, respectively. Thousand kernel weights were reduced 10 and 5% in the untreated plots compared with the treated control in 2003 and 2004, respectively. Padi avenae virus was the predominate strain, accounting for 81 and 84% of the symptomatic plots that tested positive for BYDV in 2003 and 2004. Our results indicate that economic thresholds for R. padi are 16 aphids per meter-row in the fall and 164 aphids per meter-row at jointing.