New methods for the detection of insecticide resistant Myzus persicae in the U.K. suction trap network

Abstract

Abstract1 Myzus persicae is a highly polyphagous pest of U.K. agriculture. It presents particular control difficulties because it has developed resistance to several insecticide classes.2 For almost 20 years, M. persicae collected in the U.K. suction trap network have been analysed for insecticide resistance and the data disseminated to growers via a resistance bulletin. These data are generated by the biochemical analysis of individuals for two major resistance phenotypes: (i) elevated carboxylesterase and (ii) modified acetylcholinesterase (MACE).3 The development of new polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based technologies using fluorescently labelled probes has allowed other resistance mechanisms, such as knockdown resistance to pyrethroids (kdr/super‐kdr), to be detected and has greatly increased the speed and accuracy of resistance monitoring. Unfortunately, these newer PCR‐based assays are incompatible with the older biochemical assays.4 The present study describes the development and testing of new compatible methods for detecting elevated carboxylesterases and MACE for use on M. persicae caught in the field or suction traps.5 These new tests have significant advantages over present methodologies by allowing individual aphids to be tested for three resistance mechanisms quickly and accurately on a single platform.