Insecticide use and competition shape the genetic diversity of the aphid Aphis gossypii in a cotton-growing landscape.

Field populations of the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover, are structured into geographically widespread host races. In the cotton-producing regions of West and Central Africa (WCA), two genotypes have been repeatedly detected within the cotton host race, one of which (Burk1) is prevalent (>90%) and resistant to several insecticides, as opposed to the second one (Ivo). Here, we conducted whole plant and field cage experiments to test hypotheses for such low genetic diversity, including selection from insecticide treatments, interclonal competition and adaptation to host plant, or climatic conditions. To assess the genetic diversity of immigrant aphids, alatae were trapped and collected on cotton and relay host plants (okra and roselle) in the early cropping season. Individuals were genotyped at eight specific microsatellite loci and characterized by a multilocus genotype (MLG). When independently transferred from cotton (Gossypium hirustum L.) leaf discs to whole plants (G. hirsutum and G. arboreum, roselle and okra), Ivo and Burk1 performed equally well. When concurrently transferred from cotton leaf discs to the same plant species, Ivo performed better than Burk1, indicating that competition favoured Ivo. This was also the case on G. hirsutum growing outdoors. Conversely, Burk1 prevailed when cotton plants were sprayed with insecticides. In experiments where aphids were allowed to move to neighbouring plants, Burk1 was better represented than Ivo on low-populated plants, suggesting that dispersal may be a way to avoid competition on crowded plants. Most cotton aphids collected on cotton or relay host plants in the early cropping season were Burk1 (>90%), indicating high dispersal ability and, probably reflecting high frequency on host plants from which they dispersed. In the agricultural landscape of WCA, the use of broad-range insecticides on both cotton and relay host plants has led to the prevalence of one genotype of A. gossypii resistant to different classes of insecticides. Deployment of widespread and integrated pest management strategies are needed to restore cotton aphid control.

Ecological specialization of the aphid Aphis gossypii Glover on cultivated host plants.

Many plant-feeding insect species considered to be polyphagous are in fact composed of genetically differentiated sympatric populations that use different hosts and between which gene flow still exists. We studied the population genetic structure of the cotton-melon aphid Aphis gossypii that is considered as one of the most polyphagous aphid species. We used eight microsatellites to analyse the genetic diversity of numerous samples of A. gossypii collected over several years at a large geographical scale on annual crops from different plant families. The number of multilocus genotypes detected was extremely low and the genotypes were found to be associated with host plants. Five host races were unambiguously identified (Cucurbitaceae, cotton, eggplant, potato and chili- or sweet pepper). These host races were dominated by asexual clones. Plant transfer experiments using several specialized clones further confirmed the existence of host-associated trade-offs. Finally, both genetic and experimental data suggested that plants of the genus Hibiscus may be used as refuge for the specialized clones. Resource abundance is discussed as a key factor involved in the process of ecological specialization in A. gossypii.

Susceptibility of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab2 insecticidal proteins in four countries of the West African cotton belt.

Transgenic cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., producing Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab2 insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) was first planted in Burkina Faso (West Africa) in 2008. Here, we provide the first baseline data on susceptibility of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) populations collected in West Africa (Benin, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Chad) to Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab2 toxins incorporated separately or in combination in a semisynthetic diet. For populations collected in 2006 and 2008, dose-response curves were used to estimate mortality (LC50), growth inhibition (IC50), and stunting (EC50) of larvae. For each of these parameters, susceptibility respectively varied 44-, 23-, and 37-fold for Cry1Ac; 10-, 40-, and 25-fold for Cry2Ab2; and 37-, 11-, and nine-fold for the mixture. Country or laboratory of testing did not significantly affect susceptibility to Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab2. LC50 was significantly higher in 2008 than in 2006 for Cry1Ac, possibly due to variation in experimental conditions. LC50 and IC50 (but not EC50) were positively correlated and presented similar precision and variability across regions. However, IC could provide a more practical indicator of resistance than LC, because measuring LC and IC was equally labor intensive but estimating IC required lower amounts of toxins. Cry1Ac was two- to three-fold more toxic than Cry2Ab2 and no cross-resistance occurred among populations. Incorporation of both toxins in diet had an additive effect on mortality and growth inhibition. Our results provide a basis to establish resistance-monitoring for H. armigera before the widespread use of Bt cotton in West Africa.

Dynamics of insecticide resistance in the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae s.l. from an area of extensive cotton cultivation in Northern Cameroon.

OBJECTIVE: To explore temporal variation in insecticide susceptibility of Anopheles gambiae s.l. populations to the four chemical groups of insecticides used in public health and agriculture, in close match with the large-scale cotton spraying programme implemented in the cotton-growing area of North Cameroon. METHODS: Mosquito larvae were collected in 2005 before (mid June), during (mid August) and at the end (early October) of the cotton spraying programme. Larvae were sampled in breeding sites located within the cotton fields in Gaschiga and Pitoa, and in Garoua, an urban cotton-free area that served as a control. Insecticide susceptibility tests were carried out with 4% DDT (organochlorine), 0.4% chlorpyrifos methyl (organophosphate), 0.1% propoxur (carbamate), 0.05% deltamethrin and 0.75% permethrin (pyrethroids). RESULTS: Throughout the survey, An. gambiae s.l. populations were completely susceptible to carbamate and organophosphate, whereas a significant decrease of susceptibility to organochlorine and pyrethroids was observed during spraying in cotton-growing areas. Tolerance to these insecticides was associated with a slight increase of knockdown times compared to the reference strain. Among survivor mosquitoes, the East and West African Kdr mutations were detected only in two specimens of An. gambiae s.s. (n = 45) and not in Anopheles arabiensis (n = 150), suggesting metabolic-based resistance mechanisms. CONCLUSIONS: Environmental disturbance due to the use of insecticides in agriculture may provide local mosquito populations with the enzymatic arsenal selecting tolerance to insecticides.

Tracking pyrethroid resistance in the polyphagous bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), in the shifting landscape of a cotton-growing area.

In cotton-growing areas of Central Africa, timing of host crops and pest management practices in annual rainfed cropping systems result in a shifting mosaic of habitats that influence the dynamics and resistance of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) populations on spatial scales, both within and across seasons. From 2002 to 2006, regional and local resistance was monitored among cotton fields and among the major host plants of the bollworm. From 2002, pyrethroid resistance increased within and across cotton-growing seasons to reach a worrying situation at the end of the 2005 growing season. Cotton crops played a fundamental role in the increase in seasonal resistance, even if the intensive use of insecticides on local tomato crops strongly concentrated resistance alleles in residual populations throughout the off-season. Due to the relative stability of resistance in H. armigera populations despite a long off-season, we believe that after the dispersal of the moths southwards at the end of the growing season, reverse migration mainly accounts for the reconstitution of populations at the onset of the following growing season. In addition, local resistance monitoring in 2005 and 2006 showed that it was possible to control the increase in resistance by temporarily stopping the use of pyrethroids during the period of peak infestation of cotton by H. armigera. On the other hand, the similar resistance frequency of populations sampled from sprayed and unsprayed synchronous hosts confirmed the absence of reproductive isolation between adults. As a result, diversity in cropping systems should be encouraged by planting alternative host plants to provide a mosaic of habitats, which in return would provide insecticide-free refuges. The implications for insecticide resistance management in annual cropping systems are discussed.

Modeling Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) damages on cotton.

We studied and modeled damage caused by Helicoverpa armigera larvae on cotton with the aim of developing a coupled crop pest model. Two damage components were studied: the voracity (quantity of fresh matter and number of organs consumed) and feeding preferences (type of organ infested). The laboratory no-choice study of voracity on excised squares and bolls revealed that an H. armigera larva consumes 2,856 mg of fresh matter throughout its larval life, with the sixth instar consuming 86% of this quantity. This consumption rate corresponded to 23.6 squares, or 7.8 bolls. We developed equations to predict the quantity of fresh matter uptake from an individual plant organ, according to the organ mass and the larval instar. The field study of feeding preference confirmed previous findings that larvae prefer squares to bolls, with this preference decreasing as the larval age increases. However, no significant relationship was noted between the age of larvae and the size of infested organs within each organ class (square or boll). We developed a logistic model to predict the probability of a larva infesting a boll rather than a square. According to this model, the relative organ availability in the field and the larval instar were found to be significant factors.

Influence of habitat pattern on orientation during host fruit location in the tomato fruit fly, Neoceratitis cyanescens.

Fruit flies have evolved mechanisms using olfactory and visual signals to find and recognize suitable host plants. The objective of the present study was to determine how habitat patterns may assist fruit flies in locating host plants and fruit. The tomato fruit fly, Neoceratitis cyanescens (Bezzi), was chosen as an example of a specialized fruit fly, attacking plants of the Solanaceae family. A series of experiments was conducted in an outdoor field cage wherein flies were released and captured on sticky orange and yellow spheres displayed in pairs within or above potted host or non-host plants. Bright orange spheres mimicking host fruit were significantly more attractive than yellow spheres only when placed within the canopy of host plants and not when either within non-host plants or above both types of plants. Additional experiments combining sets of host and non-host plants in the same cage, or spraying leaf extract of host plant (bug weed) on non-host plants showed that volatile cues emitted by the foliage of host plants may influence the visual response of flies in attracting mature females engaged in a searching behaviour for a laying site and in assisting them to find the host fruit. Moreover, the response was specific to mature females with a high oviposition drive because starved mature females, immature females and males showed no significant preference for orange spheres. Olfactory signals emitted by the host foliage could be an indicator of an appropriate habitat, leading flies to engage in searching for a visual image.

Assessment of Helicoverpa Armigera resistance to pyrethroid insecticides in northern Cameroon.

In Central Africa savannas, the noctuid Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) is a major pest of cotton and vegetable crops (including tomato and okra) which directly affects production by attacking fruit-bearing organs. In order to prevent and anticipate problems, the national cotton company (SODECOTON), with the help of the agricultural research (IRAD-PRASAC), implemented in 1999 a monitoring network for the early detection of resistance of target insects to the main recommended insecticides. Over the last three years, from 1999 up to 2001, assessment of H. armigera susceptibility to pyrethroid insecticides was carried out through both vial tests and topical bioassays. Revealed in southern and western Africa, pyrethroid resistance now seems to affect Central Africa also. Although control failure due to resistance has not yet been reported from the field, these results indicate the presence of resistant genes within H. armigera populations in Northern Cameron. Further laboratory studies confirmed the loss of susceptibility to cypermethrin in wild populations. Priority actions to be developed must focus on the rational and concerted management of pesticide use and the implementation of a regional monitoring network for the early detection of the loss of sensibility of target insects to the main recommended insecticides. At the same time, more fundamental research should be undertaken on the epidemiological profile of resistance in order to define practical ways of reducing the selection pressure.