Abstract
Pest species are often able to develop resistance to pesticides used to control them, depending on how rapidly resistance can emerge within a population or spread from another resistant population. We examined the evolution of bifenazate resistance in China in the two‐spotted spider mite (TSSM) Tetranychus uticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), one of the most resistant arthropods, by using bioassays, detection of mutations in the target cytb gene, and population genetic structure analysis using microsatellite markers. Bioassays showed variable levels of resistance to bifenazate. The cytb mutation G126S, which confers medium resistance in TSSM to bifenazate, had previously been detected prior to the application of bifenazate and was now widespread, suggesting likely resistance evolution from standing genetic variation. G126S was detected in geographically distant populations across different genetic clusters, pointing to the independent origin of this mutation in different TSSM populations. A novel A269V mutation linked to a low‐level resistance was detected in two southern populations. Widespread resistance associated with a high frequency of the G126S allele was found in four populations from the Beijing area which were not genetically differentiated. In this case, a high level of gene flows likely accelerated the development of resistance within this local region, as well as into an outlying region distant from Beijing. These findings, therefore, suggest patterns consistent with both local evolution of pesticide resistance as well as an impact of migration, helping to inform resistance management strategies in TSSM.
Highlights
Human activities can impose very strong selection on natural pop‐ ulations of animals and plants (Hendry et al, 2011; Hoffmann & Parsons, 1997)
A fundamental question in the evolution of pesticide resistance is the origin of resistance mutations in natural populations (Ffrench‐Constant, 2007), whether they emerge within a population from standing genetic variation or as new mutations, versus being introduced into it through migration
We assumed that de novo mutations of two‐spotted spider mite (TSSM) arising independently in China, based on the presence of resistance mutation prior to the usage of bifenazate (Gong et al, 2014), and parallel evolution of resistance mutation to bifenazate in relative spider mite species (Van Leeuwen et al, 2011), and high genetic structure among populations of TSSM (Chen, Zhang, Du, Jin, & Hong, 2016; Navajas et al, 2002; Sun, Lian, Navajas, & Hong, 2012)
Summary
Human activities can impose very strong selection on natural pop‐ ulations of animals and plants (Hendry et al, 2011; Hoffmann & Parsons, 1997). A fundamental question in the evolution of pesticide resistance is the origin of resistance mutations in natural populations (Ffrench‐Constant, 2007), whether they emerge within a population from standing genetic variation or as new mutations, versus being introduced into it through migration. We assumed that de novo mutations of TSSMs arising independently in China, based on the presence of resistance mutation prior to the usage of bifenazate (Gong et al, 2014), and parallel evolution of resistance mutation to bifenazate in relative spider mite species (Van Leeuwen et al, 2011), and high genetic structure among populations of TSSM (Chen, Zhang, Du, Jin, & Hong, 2016; Navajas et al, 2002; Sun, Lian, Navajas, & Hong, 2012). The pattern of resistance evolution revealed in our study can help facilitate effective IRM and provides information on processes involved in resistance evolution against this pesticide
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