Preliminary Study on the Differences in Hydrocarbons Between Phosphine-Susceptible and -Resistant Strains of Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius) and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) Using Direct Immersion Solid-Phase Microextraction Coupled with GC-MS.

Ihab Alnajim,Tao Liu,Manjree Agarwal,Yonglin Ren,Beibei Li,Xin Du

doi:10.3390/molecules25071565

Abstract

Phosphine resistance is a worldwide issue threatening the grain industry. The cuticles of insects are covered with a layer of lipids, which protect insect bodies from the harmful effects of pesticides. The main components of the cuticular lipids are hydrocarbon compounds. In this research, phosphine-resistant and -susceptible strains of two main stored-grain insects, T. castaneum and R. dominica, were tested to determine the possible role of their cuticular hydrocarbons in phosphine resistance. Direct immersion solid-phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was applied to extract and analyze the cuticular hydrocarbons. The results showed significant differences between the resistant and susceptible strains regarding the cuticular hydrocarbons that were investigated. The resistant insects of both species contained higher amounts than the susceptible insects for the majority of the hydrocarbons, sixteen from cuticular extraction and nineteen from the homogenized body extraction for T. castaneum and eighteen from cuticular extraction and twenty-one from the homogenized body extraction for R. dominica. 3-methylnonacosane and 2-methylheptacosane had the highest significant difference between the susceptible and resistant strains of T. castaneum from the cuticle and the homogenized body, respectively. Unknown5 from the cuticle and 3-methylhentriacontane from the homogenized body recorded the highest significant differences in R. dominica. The higher hydrocarbon content is a key factor in eliminating phosphine from entering resistant insect bodies, acting as a barrier between insects and the surrounding phosphine environment.

Highlights

The lesser grain borer Rhyzopertha dominica and the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum are critical global pests that destroy various commodities, including stored grains [1,2]
50 for the resistance ratio was calculated according to the LC of the susceptible insects
The aim of studying the variance in quantities of hydrocarbons between the phosphine-susceptible and -resistant strains of T. castaneum and R. dominica was to investigate the contribution of hydrocarbons to the phosphine resistance mechanism of resistant strains, which avoids the toxic effect of phosphine

Summary

Introduction

The lesser grain borer Rhyzopertha dominica and the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum are critical global pests that destroy various commodities, including stored grains [1,2]. Molecules 2020, 25, 1565 fumigant to control pests in the store-product industry [3]. Resistance to fumigants is a serious issue that threatens the grain industry worldwide [4]. Long and ineffective applications are additional factors which have caused the development of resistance to this fumigant in most stored-grain insect species [5]. The whole biochemical mechanism of resistance continues to be unclear despite a large number of studies on the subject [6]. The resistance mechanism involves the absorption of less phosphine by the resistant strains than by the susceptible strains. Elimination of phosphine from the respiratory system is one of the accepted mechanisms of insect resistance to phosphine [7,8]

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion