General Esterase Research Articles

Esterase profile changes in ladybeetle, <i>Hippodamia variegata</i> Goeze (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and its prey, <i>Aphis fabae</i> Scop. (Homoptera: Aphididae) affected by two insecticides, thiamethoxam and pirimicarb

Black bean aphid, Aphis fabae Scopoli (Homoptera: Aphididae), is a cosmopolitan and serious pest of diverse plant species. In addition to inflicting direct damage, it is an important vector of viruses producing indirect damages. Hippodamia variegata , is considered as aphids predator both in their larval and adult stages. Thus, the aim of the current study was to investigate toxicological, biochemical and physiological effects of two widespread used pesticides against aphids including pirimicarb and thiamethoxam on third instar larvae of the ladybeetle and the adult female of the aphid in laboratory condition. Bioassay showed that LC 50 value in thiamethoxam treatment against A. fabae and H. variegata was 113.85 and 788.55 mg (ai)L -1 , respectively and LC 50 value for pirimicarb treatment against two insects was 2.94 and 2740.07 mg (ai)L -1 , respectively. Enzyme assays showed that AChE and CbE (evaluated by a -NA) of A. fabae inhibited significantly by pirimicarbtreatments(P>0.05), whilst thiamethoxam treatment did not affect both enzymes. Both insecticides did not affect H. variegata AChE and CbE activities, significantly. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresisof general esterases of A. fabae by a solution mixture of both substrates ( a - and b -NA) showed that only one band present in the control and in the treated insects. However, in H. variegata larvae, there were four esterase isoforms in the control and the isoforms showed changes after insect treatment with the insecticides. Thus it is concluded that susceptibility of the two insects toward the two insecticides are different and these differences were obvious in their enzyme activity and their isoforms as well.

Phenol Esterase Activity of Porcine Skin

The alkyl esters of plant-derived phenols may serve as slow-release sources for cutaneous delivery of antioxidants. The ability of skin esterases to hydrolyze phenolic esters was examined. Esters of tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol were prepared from decanoic and lipoic acids. Ferulic acid was esterified with octadecanol, glycerol, and dioleoylglycerol. These phenolic derivatives were treated in taurodeoxycholate microemulsion and unilamellar liposomes with ex vivo porcine skin and an aqueous extract of the skin. Extracted esterases hydrolyzed the microemulsions at rates in the order: tyrosyl lipoate>tyrosyl decanoate>hydroxytyrosyl lipoate>hydroxytyrosyl decanoate. The tyrosyl decanoate was subject to comparatively little hydrolysis (10–30% after 24h) when incorporated into liposomes, while hydroxytyrosyl decanoate in liposomes was not hydrolyzed at all by the skin extract. Ferulate esters were not hydrolyzed by the extract in aqueous buffer, microemulsion, nor liposomes. Tyrosyl decanoate applied topically to skin explants in microemulsion were readily hydrolyzed within 4h, while hydrolysis was minimal when applied in liposomes. These findings indicate that porcine skin displays a general esterase activity toward medium-chain esters of tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol, which can be moderated by the physiochemical properties of the lipid vehicle, but no feruloyl esterase activity.

Effects of Pyriproxyfen on Intermediary Metabolism of Rice Striped Stem Borer, Chilo suppressalis Walker (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

Effects of Pyriproxyfen were determined on intermediary metabolism in the fifth larval instars of Chilo suppressalis via assessments of various enzymatic and non-enzymatic compounds. Bioassay of larvae revealed LC10–50 values of 18, 72 and 190 µg/ml of pyriproxyfen. Results on alanine aminotransferase revealed lower activities in treated larvae versus control for all time intervals while activity of aspartate aminotransferase showed higher activities in treated larvae by 18 and 72 µg/ml of pyriproxyfen. Activities of γ-Glutamyl transferase and aldolase in treated larvae were significantly higher than those of control larvae. Treating of larvae by different concentrations of pyriproxyfen significantly increased lactate dehydrogenase activity for all time intervals although activity of the enzyme after 1 h was not significantly different among control and treated larvae. Activities of acid and alkaline phosphatases in treated larvae were higher than those of control. Amount of high and low density lipoproteins in treated larvae was higher than those of control except for time interval of 3 h of HDL in which control larvae revealed higher amount than 72 and 190 µg/ml treated larvae. Increased activity of the enzyme was noticed in treated larvae versus control in case of general esterases. Similar results were observed in case of glutathione S-transferase. Amount of triacylglyceride, glycogen and protein in control larvae was higher than those of treated larvae for all time intervals indicating their depletion due to energetic costs of pyriproxyfen treatment. These results clearly indicated negative effects of pyriproxyfen on intermediary metabolism of larvae that might lead to desirable mortality in pest population.

Incidence and Characterization of Resistance to Fenpropathrin in Some <I>Liriomyza sativae</I> (Diptera: Agromyzidae) Populations in Iran

The vegetable leafminer, Liriomyza sativae Blanchard, is a key pest of vegetable and ornamental crops worldwide and is mainly controlled by insecticides. The toxicity of fenpropathrin on adult flies of F1 generation of six Iranian populations of the pest was assessed using the residual glass vial method. The bioassay results showed significant differences in susceptibility to fenpropathrin among the populations tested. Resistance ratios ranged from 5.09 to 28.32. The resistant populations were reared in the greenhouse under fenpropathrin pressure for 14 mo and then susceptibility of both larvae and adults of these strains to fenpropathrin was evaluated. The resistance levels significantly increased in these populations. Further study demonstrated that diethyl maleate and triphenyl phosphate had no synergistic effects on fenpropathrin, however, this compound was significantly synergized by piperonyl butoxide in all tested populations. S,S,S-tributyl phosphorotrithioate also showed a slight synergism with fenpropathrin. Enzyme assays for general esterases, glutathione S-transferases and monooxygenases were performed on adults and larvae of L. sativae. The activity of glutathione s-transferase in different resistant and susceptible strains was not significantly different. The activity of esterases in resistant strains was higher than the susceptible strain. Monooxygenase levels also were higher in resistant strains compared with the susceptible strain. Synergism and biochemical assays revealed that esterases and monooxygenases have a major role in resistance of L. sativae to fenpropathrin.

Enhancement of Resistance vis-à-vis Defence-Enzyme Activity in Tea Mosquito Bug, Helopeltis theivora Waterhouse (Hemiptera: Miridae) Selected Through Exposure to Sub-lethal Dose of Monochrotophos

Tea industry is the back bone of agro-economy of the tea producing regions. Tea mosquito bug, Helopeltis theivora Waterhouse is one of the most devastating sucking pests of tea and is a menace to tea plantations of North Bengal and other states of NE India. Insecticide forms the mainstay of pest management programme in tea plantations. Insecticide stress and selection have led to the development of high tolerance or resistance in many pests including the sucking bug H. theivora. LC50 value of an organophosphate insecticide, monochrotophos (SL 36 %) to this species increased about 105 fold when selected by exposure to sub-lethal dose for three generations. Generation-wise relative tolerance level when selected by sub-lethal dose of monochrotophos showed a significant increase in 1st and 2nd filial generations as compared to the parental generation (P < F1 < F2). General esterases (GE) activity got enhanced by 5.32 and 16.4 fold, and the activity of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYP) increased by 1.96 and 9.50 fold in F1 and F2 generations respectively as compared to parental generation. The generation-wise increase in relative resistance and the activity of defence enzymes were found to have high positive correlation; r = 0.999 for GE and r = 0.994 for CYP. The study suggests that the titres of GE and CYP in H. theivora can be used as the markers of relative tolerance to insecticides in general, with mode of action similar to monochrotophos. Such defence-enzyme based detection technique for tolerance levels may help early identification of resistant population of H. theivora; hence its management.

Decrease of insecticide resistance over generations without exposure to insecticides in Nilaparvata lugens (Hemipteran: Delphacidae).

The brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål), is one of the most important insect pests on paddy rice in tropical and temperate Asia. Overuse and misuse of insecticides have resulted in the development of high resistance to many different insecticides in this pest. Studies were conducted to evaluate the change of resistance level to four insecticides over 15 generations without any exposure to insecticides in brown planthopper. After 15 generations' rearing without exposure to insecticide, brown planthopper could reverse the resistance to imidacloprid, chlorpyrifos, fipronil, and fenobucarb. The range and style of resistance reversal of brown planthopper differed when treated with four different insecticides. To monitor potential changes in insect physiological responses, we measured the activity of each of the three selected enzymes, including acetylcholinesterases (AChE), general esterases (EST), and glutathione S-transferases. After multiple generations' rearing without exposure to insecticide, AChE and EST activities of brown planthopper declined with the increased generations, suggesting that the brown planthopper population adjusted activities of EST and AChE to adapt to the non-insecticide environment. These findings suggest that the reducing, temporary stop, or rotation of insecticide application could be incorporated into the brown planthopper management.

Esterase mediated resistance against synthetic pyrethroids in field populations of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) in Punjab districts of India

Detection of resistance levels against cypermethrin and deltamethrin, the most commonly used synthetic pyrethroids (SP), in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus collected from thirteen districts of Punjab (India) was carried out using adult immersion test. The regression graphs of probit mortality of ticks plotted against log values of concentrations of drugs were utilized for the determination of slope of mortality, lethal concentration for 50% (LC50), 95% (LC95) and resistance factor (RF). On the basis of the data generated on variables (mortality, egg mass weight, reproductive index and percentage inhibition of oviposition) the resistance levels were categorized. Against cypermethrin RFs of 1.48–11.22 were recorded in 12 isolates whereas, one isolate was susceptible. Resistance factors against deltamethrin were 2.4–38.54 and all 13 isolates were found to be resistant. Quantitative analysis of general esterase activity (measured by the production of the metabolite naphthol) revealed a range of 3.34±0.30–13.75±1.33 and 1.31±0.15–8.09±0.68μmol/min/mg protein for α and β-esterase activity, respectively in different field isolates. Further, multiple pairwise comparisons of the mean values with susceptible strain (Tukey, P=0.05) revealed significant elevated levels of both α-esterase and β-esterase in nine tick isolates resistant to both deltamethrin and cypermethrin. The data generated on acaricide resistant status and esterase mediated mechanism in ticks will help in formulating tick control strategy for the region.

Biochemical properties of different entomopathogenic fungi and their virulence against Chilo suppressalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) larvae

We determined the virulence of Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, Isaria fumosoroseus and Lecanicilium lecanii against larvae of Chilo suppressalis Walker by bioassay and evaluated several enzymatic and non-enzymatic components. LC50 values of the entomopathogenic fungi revealed 90, 32, 45,000, 4600, 42,000 and 1,540,000 spores/larva for isolates BB1–BB3 of B. bassiana, I. fumosoroseus, M. anisopliae and L. lecanii, respectively. Isolate BB3 and I. fumosoroseus had the highest amounts of total protein and hydrophobin and isolates BB3 and M. anisopliae showed the highest activities of lipases and chitinases. In case of proteases, the highest activities were observed for Pr1 of BB1 and Pr2 of L. lecanii. The highest general esterase activities were obtained in I. fumosoroseus and BB1 when 1-naphtyl acetate and 2-naphtyl acetate were used as substrates. The highest activity of glutathione S-transferase (GST) was observed in I. fumosoroseus by using both reagents but BB1 demonstrated the highest activities of alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase. Clustering of the fungi using biochemical enzymes revealed BB2 and BB3 as a separate group of entomopathogenic fungi. In another group, I. fumosoroseus and L. lecanii had the most similarity and were separated from BB1 and M. anisopliae. The fungi exhibited different virulence on larvae of C. suppressalis by producing adhering protein and extracellular enzymes. Overall, results of the bioassays and clustering based on enzymatic activities revealed that isolate BB2 was the most effective fungus against larvae of C. suppressalis.

A review on digestive TAG-lipases of insects

Digestion in insects is a multi-step process to afford nutritional requirements of biological activities. The process starts with nervous stimuli and continues with biochemical activities of digestive enzymes as well as several pumps to digest and absorb the obtained molecules. Carbohydrases, lipases and proteases are the three main digestive enzymes involved in digestion process. Lipases seem to be very important not only for digestive role but also for esteratic activity so that some experts consider lipases as the Class 3 of general esterases. Digestive lipases divided into different groups based on their biological roles namely triacylglycerol lipases, phospholipases and two types of phosphatases. Briefly, triacylglycerol lipases (TAG-lipases) are the hydrolysing enzymes that affect the outer esteric links of triacylglycerols in ingested food. Phospholipases including PLA2 and PLA1 remove phosphatide fatty acids attached to the Position 2 and Position 1. Finally, Alkaline and acid phosphatases are the enzymes that hydrolyse phosphomonoesters under alkaline or acid conditions, respectively. In this review, presence and physiological role of digestive TAG-lipases are explained and their possible importance will be discussed in insect.

Comparison of susceptibility of two populations of Tetranychus urticae Koch to two acaricides, abamectin and propargite

The spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch is a serious pest of economically important plants in closed and open area worldwide. The spider mite resistance to acaricide plays a major role in the failure of the chemical control method. Thus, the aim of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy of two acaricides, abamectin and propargite, against two populations (strains) of the spider mite. Results showed that LC50s of the abamectin against susceptible and resistant strains of the spider mite were 0.1 and 2730 ppm, respectively. Whilst LC50s of the propargite against susceptible and resistant strains of the spider mite were 55 and 7199 ppm, respectively. Resistance ratio (RR) calculated as the ratio of resistance LC50/susceptible LC50 showed that RR for abamectin and propargite was 20285 and 130, respectively. The enzyme assay results showed that three mechanisms of MFO, GST and EST are involved in the abamectin resistance of the spider mite. In gel assays, when α-naphthyl acetate was used as substrate, three bands appeared in the gel in which bands E2 and E3 were major bands and E1 was a minor band confirming that α-naphthyl acetate was a better substrate for general esterase activity in the spider mite whereas β-acetate when used for esterase activity, only two faint bands (E1 and E2) were observed. The order of their involvement in the abamectin resistance is EST > MFO > GST.

Effect of Thymus vulgaris L. and Origanum vulgare L. essential oils on toxicity, food consumption, and biochemical properties of lesser mulberry pyralid Glyphodes pyloalis Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Abstract The essential oils of Thymus vulgaris L. and Origanum vulgare L. were investigated for their toxicity and physiological aspects on the lesser mulberry pyralid Glyphodes pyloalis Walker in controlled condition (24±1°C, 75±5% RH and 16L : 8D). The leaf disc method was used to study acute toxicity, the effect of LC10, LC30, and LC50 on the feeding efficiency of 4th instar larva, and biochemical indices. The essential oil doses of LC10, LC30 and LC50 were estimated to be 0.107%, 0.188% and 0.279% for T. vulgaris, and 0.67%, 1.173% and 1.728% for O. vulgare, respectively. The results showed that T. vulgaris was more toxic than O. vulgare. The essential oil sublethal dose LC30 affected the nutritional indices of 4th instar larvae of G. pyloalis. The essential oils reduced total protein, carbohydrate, and lipid. Some concentrations of essential oils changed the activity level of α-amylase, protease, lipase, general esterases, and glutathione S-transferase (GST) but others showed no effect on these enzymes. It was concluded that the used essential oil concentrations were both toxic to G. pyloalis and showed irreversible effects on key metabolic processes, therefore, the used essential oil concentrations may be considered as alternatives to the classic pest control agents.

Host-based life cycle traits and detoxification enzymes of major looper pests (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) of tea from Darjeeling Terai, India

Three polyphagous looper caterpillars, Buzura suppressaria Guenee, Hyposidra talaca Walker and Hyposidra infixaria Walker, have established themselves as severe pests of tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze] in the plantations of sub Himalayan West Bengal (Terai region). Schima wallichii (DC.) Korth. is a naturally occurring alternative host of all these looper species. To gain an insight into looper and host plant relationships, the present work contemplates studies on host preference, host-based life cycle traits and levels of detoxification enzymes, such as general esterases (GEs) and glutathione S-transferases (GSTs). From the study, host-induction of feeding preference was evident in all the three looper species. Hyposidra spp. exhibited similar post-embryonic development periods both on tea and S. wallichii, whereas B. suppressaria reared on tea needed a longer development period than on S. wallichii. Tea-reared caterpillars of Hyposidra spp. were significantly heavier, having higher quantities of GEs and GSTs than S. wallichii-reared ones. B. suppressaria, however, exhibited similar body weights on tea and S. wallichii. While GST level was higher in tea-reared B. suppressaria, its GE quantity was higher on S. wallichii. Although tea was found to be a more suitable host for Hyposidra spp., the host S. wallichii proved marginally better than tea for supporting B. suppressaria. However, all the three looper species could utilize the foliage of tea and S. wallichii successfully. So S. wallichii trees can act as a sylvan reservoir of the looper species, prompting their possible invasion of tea plantations and thus making management of looper pests in tea more difficult.

General esterases of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) change in response to feed on cotton varieties

The esterase enzymes are a major component of insect detoxification systems and play a crucial role in hydrolyzing lots of xenobiotic compounds. Among insect, generalist herbivores can exhibit developed biochemical defences as a result of exposing to a wide range of plant chemical compounds. To overcome this ability, host plants may affect the level of hydrolases in herbivore insects feeding on. To examine this hypothesis, in the present study total esterase activity was investigated in a highly polyphagous whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, reared on six different varieties of cotton, Gossypium hirsutum. Results showed significant differences in esterase activity of B. tabaci feeding on the host plant varieties. The highest esterase activities were detected in whiteflies feeding on Sk-Tb and Siokra varieties, whereas those whiteflies that feed on Hopicala variety exhibited the least esterase activities. Our findings highlight the important role of host plants in detoxification ability of herbivore insects. The importance of these findings in biology of insect pests and their applications in integrated pest management programmes of B. tabaci have been discussed in detail.

Elucidation of the genetic differences in Trialeurodes vaporariorum populations under vegetable greenhouse conditions by using the allozyme approach

AbstractGenetic differentiation of Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood 1856) populations was examined using biochemical and allozyme analysis. For biochemical analysis, general esterase and glutathion‐S‐transferase were tested. Allozyme genetic variability in 11 populations of T. vaporariorum was investigated using five loci from four enzyme systems. Although there are large variations between populations, T. vaporariorum is grouped into two populations with geographic barriers, based on Nei's genetic distance in the Baekdudaegan Mountains. Within these two groups, low migration and linkage disequilibrium reveal that populations tend to be influenced by gene drift rather than uniform selection pressures. The effect of genetic drift is greater than the effect of uniform selection by insecticides or host plant resistance, which is suggested by the FST estimates in this study. Based on this basic research, more effective whitefly control programs could be built in the future.

Physiological and biochemical effect of neem and other Meliaceae plants secondary metabolites against Lepidopteran insects.

This review described the physiological and biochemical effects of various secondary metabolites from Meliaceae against major Lepidopteran insect pest including, Noctuidae and Pyralidae. The biochemical effect of major Meliaceae secondary metabolites were discussed more in this review. Several enzymes based on food materials have critical roles in nutritional indices (food utilization) of the insect pest population. Several research work has been referred and the effect of Meliaceae secondary metabolites on feeding parameters of insects by demonstrating food consumption, approximate digestibility of consumed food, efficiency of converting the ingested food to body substance, efficiency of converting digested food to body substance and consumption index was reviewed in detail. Further how the digestive enzymes including a-Amylases, α and β-glucosidases (EC 3.2.1.1), lipases (EC 3.1.1) Proteases, serine, cysteine, and aspartic proteinases affected by the Meliaceae secondary metabolites was reviewed. Further effect of Meliaceae secondary metabolites on detoxifying enzymes have been found to react against botanical insecticides including general esterases (EST), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and phosphatases was reviewed. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP, E.C.3.1.3.1) and acid phosphatase (ACP, E.C.3.1.3.2) are hydrolytic enzymes, which hydrolyze phosphomonoesters under alkaline or acid conditions, respectively. These enzymes were affected by the secondary metabolites treatment. The detailed mechanism of action was further explained in this review. Acethylcholine esterase (AChE) is a key enzyme that terminates nerve impulses by catalyzing the hydrolysis of neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, in the nervous system of various organisms. How the AChE activity was altered by the Meliaceae secondary metabolites reviewed in detail.

Metabolic activation by human arylacetamide deacetylase, CYP2E1, and CYP1A2 causes phenacetin-induced methemoglobinemia

Phenacetin has been used as an analgesic antipyretic but has now been withdrawn from the market due to adverse effects such as methemoglobinemia and renal failure. It has been suggested that metabolic activation causes these adverse effects; yet, the precise mechanisms remain unknown. We previously demonstrated that human arylacetamide deacetylase (AADAC) was the principal enzyme catalyzing the hydrolysis of phenacetin. In this study, we assessed whether AADAC was involved in phenacetin-induced methemoglobinemia. A high methemoglobin (Met-Hb) level in the blood was detected 1h after administration of phenacetin (250mg/kg, p.o.) to male C57BL/6 mice. Pre-administration of tri-o-tolylphosphate, a general esterase inhibitor, was found to decrease the levels of Met-Hb and the plasma concentration of p-phenetidine, a hydrolyzed metabolite of phenacetin. An in vitro study using red blood cells revealed that incubation of phenacetin or p-phenetidine with human liver microsomes (HLM) increased the formation of Met-Hb. To identify the enzymes involved in the formation of Met-Hb, we used recombinant enzymes and HLM treated with inhibitors in the measurement of the formation of Met-Hb. High levels of Met-Hb were observed following incubation of human AADAC with either cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A2 or CYP2E1. Furthermore, the increased Met-Hb formation by the incubation of HLM with phenacetin was significantly inhibited to 25.1±0.7% of control by eserine, a potent AADAC inhibitor. In conclusion, we found that the hydrolysis by AADAC and subsequent metabolism by CYP1A2 and CYP2E1 play predominant roles in phenacetin-induced methemoglobinemia.

Variation in the Activity of Three Principal Detoxifying Enzymes in Major Sucking Pest of Tea, Helopeltis theivora Waterhouse (Heteroptera: Miridae) from Sub-Himalayan Tea Plantations of West Bengal, India

Helopeltis theivora Waterhouse (Heteroptera: Miridae), is a major sucking pest of tea in North East India along with other tea growing countries. In West Bengal, tea is cultivated in three sub-Himalayan regions, Terai (foothill plains western to river Teesta), the Dooars (foothill plains eastern to river Teesta) and the Darjeeling hill slopes. Most plantations, in these regions are managed conventionally i.e. by spraying different synthetic insecticides and a few by organic farming using different herbal and microbial insecticides. In conventional plantations, continuous application of insecticides may lead to the selection of more tolerant H. theivora populations making the pest difficult to control. So, there is a pressing need to know the biochemical variability in relation to the metabolic resistance in the pest populations and develop a population specific control strategy. Activity of three principal insecticide detoxifying enzymes in H. theivora populations were studied from three tea growing regions of North Bengal. Higher levels of activity of all the studied enzymes were found from conventional tea plantations. In male H. theivora, the activity of general esterases (GEs) was 6.6–11.2 and 10.5–11.4 fold higher, cytochrome P450 (CYPs) was 2.0–3.2 and 3.0–3.2 fold higher and glutathione S-transferase (GSTs) was 5.2–8.3 and 6.4–8.7 fold higher in Terai and the Dooars populations, respectively than organic populations from Darjeeling hill slopes. Similarly, in female H. theivora, activity of GEs was 6.2–10.3 and 8.3–9.6 folds higher, CYPs was 1.9–3.2 and 3.0–3.3 fold, and GSTs was 3.5–5.4 and 4.4–6.0 fold higher in Terai and the Dooars, respectively than the organic populations from Darjeeling hill slopes. The activities of all three enzymes were found to be significantly low in organic plantations from Darjeeling hill slopes. Esterase I–VI isozymes with higher level of expression were found in specimens from conventional tea plantations than organic populations of H. theivora from Darjeeling hill slopes in isozymes study.

Plasticity in biochemical characteristics of cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover in response to different host plants and neonicotinoid pesticides

In the present investigation an effort was made to realise the role of feeding host plants on some enzymes’ activities. The results showed that the enzymes’ activities were changed in the aphids feeding on different host plants which assist in detoxification of their host metabolites. It is important when the aphids are exposed to insecticides. The results indicated that the measured enzyme activity has significant changes depending on the host plant. It is shown in this study that there are no significant differences between different host plants on esterase activity (p = 0.446); however, there is a significant difference between GSH activity (p = 0.047) but this relationship is not significant on MFO activity (p = 0.417). Among three strains of Ag-PP, Ag-MO and Ag-FA, strain Ag-PP was the most resistant strain against neonicotinoids, and the resistance mechanism was related to metabolic increase in carboxyl esterase activity. The results showed that strain of Ag-MO was the most susceptible strain against neonicotinoids. The result of this investigation also showed that the general esterases might play an important role in conferring or contributing to neonicotinoid resistance in the cotton aphids.

Effect of host plants on fitness traits and detoxifying enzymes activity of Helopeltis theivora, a major sucking insect pest of tea

Helopeltis theivora Waterhouse (Heteroptera: Miridae) is a major sucking insect pest of tea (Camellia sinensis) which feeds on a wide variety of alternative host plants. Feeding biology and fitness traits of H. theivora, on two alternative host plants, viz., Mikania micrantha (Asteraceae) and Psidium guajava (Myrtaceae), besides C. sinensis (Theaceae), were studied along with corresponding levels of xenobiotic defense enzymes. C. sinensis is the preferred host of H. theivora. The development time of H. theivora is significantly shorter on C. sinensis (13.3 ± 0.16 days) than on the two other hosts, M. micrantha (14.2 ± 0.22 days) and P. guajava (14.7 ± 0.23 days). Similarly, the fecundity (C. sinensis: 172.6 ± 4.5 eggs/female, M. micrantha: 128.6 ± 4.4 eggs/female, P. guajava: 118.7 ± 3.3 eggs/female), oviposition period (C. sinensis: 24.1 ± 0.7 days, M. micrantha: 22.5 ± 0.6 days, P. guajava: 21.7 ± 0.8 days) and hatchability (C. sinensis: 80.9 ± 1.9%, M. micrantha: 69.4 ± 1.6%, P. guajava: 64.1 ± 1.7%) are recorded to be significantly higher on C. sinensis. The age at reproductive maturity and egg incubation periods were lower on C. sinensis than on the two other host plants. Host-based variation in H. theivora fitness traits is interpreted in light of differential activity of three principal xenobiotic detoxifying enzymes, the general esterases (GEs), glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYPs). The activities of these enzymes in H. theivora were significantly enhanced when the insect fed on M. micrantha and P. guajava as compared with on C. sinensis.

Insecticide susceptibility and activity of major detoxifying enzymes in female Helopeltis theivora (Heteroptera: Miridae) from sub-Himalayan tea plantations of North Bengal, India

Despite the continuous use of synthetic insecticides during the last two decades, the tea mosquito bug Helopeltis theivora Waterhouse still exists as the most destructive pest of tea in North East India. The susceptibility levels of the female sucking bug collected from conventional (synthetic insecticide treated: Terai and Dooars plain regions) and organic (synthetic insecticide untreated: low-altitude Darjeeling region) tea plantations of the northern part of West Bengal to two synthetic insecticides, quinalphos and cypermethrin, and the activity of three principal detoxifying enzymes were assayed. Compared with the susceptible Darjeeling population, the Terai and Dooars populations showed a resistance factor at the lethal concentrations for 50% level ranging from 547- to 2680.87-fold and from 3810- to 7480-fold for quinalphos and cypermethrin, respectively. General esterases (GEs), glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and cytochrome P450-mediated mono-oxygenases (CYPs) also showed an increased activity in the Terai and Dooars populations compared with those from Darjeeling. Defence enzyme activity was enhanced by 15.4- and 17.6-fold for GEs, 1.8- and 1.9-fold for GSTs and 2.1- and 2.4-fold for CYPs in the synthetic insecticide-treated H. theivora populations when compared with the untreated Darjeeling populations. Electrophoretic analysis for GEs showed a higher level of expression for esterase I–VI isozymes in the Terai and Dooars populations when compared with that in the Darjeeling populations. This study reveals a reduced efficacy of quinalphos and cypermethrin against field populations of H. theivora, possibly due to enhanced activities of GEs, GSTs and CYPs. The findings may be used in developing integrated resistance management strategies that can help in the effective control of this major tea pest.