Abstract
Simple SummaryThe Aphis gossypii is a global problem for its pesticide resistance with substantial economic and ecological cost and a wide host range, including cotton and cucurbits. The development of insecticide resistance is rapid and widespread and threatens crop productivity. Biopesticides have emerged as a better alternative for pest control. Cucurbitacin B (CucB) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) are the major secondary metabolites of host plants cucurbits and cotton. In this study, we used cotton- and cucurbit-specialized aphids (CO and CU) as a study system to better understand the effects of CucB and EGCG on cotton aphid. Our study showed that CucB and EGCG can significantly reduce the population-level fitness of A. gossypii, affect their ability to adapt to nonhost plants and alter the levels of some detoxifying enzymes, which showed a potential to be developed into new biopesticides against the notorious aphids.Aphis gossypii (Glover) is distributed worldwide and causes substantial economic and ecological problems owing to its rapid reproduction and high pesticide resistance. Plant-derived cucurbitacin B (CucB) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) are known to have insecticidal and repellent activities. However, their insecticidal activity on cotton- and cucurbit-specialized aphids (CO and CU), the two important host biotypes of A. gossypii, remains to be investigated. In the present study, we characterized, for the first time, the effects of these two plant extracts on the two host biotypes of A. gossypii. CucB and EGCG significantly reduced the A. gossypii population-level fitness and affected their ability to adapt to nonhost plants. Activities of important detoxification enzymes were also altered, indicating that pesticide resistance is weakened in the tested aphids. Our results suggest that CucB and EGCG have unique properties and may be developed as potential biopesticides for aphid control in agriculture.
Highlights
Introduction censeeMDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Agricultural losses due to pests pose considerable economic and ecological challenges, exacerbated by climate change [1]
We found that exposure of A. gossypii to cucurbitacin B (CucB) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
The F0 aphids maintained on CucB or EGCG treated leaves all died after 20–24 days of feeding, but the survival rate for cotton-specialized aphids (CO) and cucurbit-specialized aphids (CU) control groups were 21% and 14%, respectively
Summary
Agricultural losses due to pests pose considerable economic and ecological challenges, exacerbated by climate change [1]. Insect pest control has mostly depended on the use of synthetic chemical insecticides [2,3]. Extensive and long-term application of synthetic insecticides has resulted in residual pollution in food, water, and other environmental components with adverse effects on human health and ecosystems [4], along with a strong negative impact on biodiversity [5]. Mechanisms to overcome insecticide toxicity, including detoxification and excretion, which reduce pesticide effectiveness [6,7]. Biopesticides (e.g., fungus and plant extracts) have emerged as a better alternative for pest control [8,9,10]
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