Overexpression of cytochrome P450 genes in Aphis gossypii (Glover) in the cotton fields of the Çukurova region, Turkey

Abstract

Aphis gossypii Glover, 1877 (Hemiptera: Aphididae), which is a polyphagous species, is among the main pests of the cotton plants in the whole world. The Çukurova region is an area where polyculture agriculture activities are carried out. While insecticides in the neonicotinoid group are prevalently used in the cotton fields in this region for controlling A. gossypii, the problem of resistance is frequently encountered. This study determined the relative expression levels of the CYP6CY22 and CYP6CY13 genes, cytochrome P450, acetylcholine esterase (AChE) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzyme activities in six different populations of A. gossypii collected in 2018 from cotton fields in the province of Adana in Southern Turkey. In comparison to the reference culture, there was an increase in gene regulation by 81.9 fold in the CYP6CY22 gene in the Hamitbey population and by 6 fold in the CYP6CY13 gene in the Gazipaşa population. Additionally, the Hamitbey population showed 4.3 times higher (0.74 U/ml) cytochrome P450 enzyme activity. The Çiftlikler population showed 5.9 fold higher AChE (0.82 U/ml) and 4.3 fold higher GST (2.68 U/ml) activities. The analyses revealed that the A. gossypii populations were exposed to high amounts of insecticides. Consequently, overexpressed genes, high levels of enzyme activities and metabolic resistance in based on cytochrome P450 activity were observed in the study.