Populations Of Plutella Xylostella Research Articles

Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) and Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) interaction as a resistance inductor factor in Brassica oleracea var. capitata

Resistance of Plutella xylostella populations to chemical insecticides has made its management difficult, and the utilization of resistant cabbage cultivars has been shown to be a useful alternative. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the induction of cabbage plant resistance to P. xylostella using PGPR and injuries caused by the pest larvae as elicitors. Therefore, we evaluated the insects’ responses utilizing a specific bioassay. Furthermore, this assay was used for selecting a PGPR strain that affects the insect’s biology, and to examine molecular and biochemical responses of the plants influenced by the plant-microbe-insect interaction. Among the strains used in this study, Kluyvera ascorbata showed the most relevant results by influencing biological characteristics of the insect. Thus, the following tests demonstrated that the cited strain possesses a high influence on plant metabolism when it undergoes different types of stress such as injuries caused by the pest. These findings were determined from the different responses obtained by the chemical analyses of the tested plants and from the differentiation in the genetic sequences obtained from plants inoculated with or without PGPR that were injured by the pest. The PGPR K. ascorbata alters the metabolism of cabbage plants, which directs a specific plant defense against P. xylostella.

Resistance Inheritance of Plutellaxylostella Population to Residual of Emamectin Benzoat

<p>Excessive use of insecticides drives the increasing ability of pests to become resistant. The objectives of this research were to study the susceptibility and the resistance inheritance of the eleven population of P. xylostella to emamectin benzoate. The leaf-dip bioassay was applied to determine the sensitivity of P. xylostella to emamectin benzoate. The offspring of backcrossed F2 were tested whether the resistance was controlled by monogenic. The results showed that the LC50 of the Selo population was 53.42 ppb, and the Puasan population was 212.13 ppb. The genetic analysis showed that the backcrosseddegree of dominance (D) was less than 1. It was indicated that the P. xylostella resistance to emamectin benzoate was recessive. The value of LC50 of the backcrossed F1♀ x ♂S (177.99 ppb) and its reciprocals x ♀R (F1) (201.69 ppb) were not significantly different with the value of LC50 resistance population. This suggests that the nature of P. xylostella resistance to emamectin benzoate was controlled by monogenic.The result of the study would be beneficial for developing strategy to maintain susceptible population using refugee plant during lack of their host.</p>

Seasonal proportion change of ryanodine receptor mutation (G4946E) in diamondback moth populations.

This study examined the seasonal proportion change of ryanodine receptor mutation (G4946E) for Plutella xylostella populations using quantitative sequencing. Results showed that the proportions of G4946E generally increased from spring through summer, but then decreased in autumn. Furthermore, the proportions in late autumn were similar to those in early spring of the subsequent year. These results suggest that diamide effectiveness for P. xylostella control in the reference year can be evaluated based on a proportion survey in the prior year.

Resistance monitoring of Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) to risk-reduced insecticides and cross resistance to spinetoram

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) is the major pest of the Brassicaceae family. In the Agreste region of Pernambuco (Brazil), a Brassica producing center, P. xylostella is under continuous selection pressure by insecticides leading to increased frequency of resistance genes in this species. The objective of the present study was to monitor the resistance of P. xylostella populations to spinosad, chlorfenapyr, and chlorantraniliprole as well as the susceptibility to spinetoram in the Agreste region of Pernambuco (Brazil). Concentration-response bioassays were performed with spinosad, chlorfenapyr and spinetoram to estimate the LC values. Furthermore, a concentration corresponding to label dose for registered products (chlorantraniliprole, spinosad, and chlorfenapyr) and diagnostic concentration for chlorantraniliprole and spinosad were used. The LC50 to spinosad varied from 0.017 (Recife) to 3.64 (Bezerros II) mg a. i./L (RR50 varying up to ~200-fold), while for spinetoram, they varied from 0.0013 (Alegre) to 0.198 (Bezerros II) mg a. i./L (RR50 varying up to ~150-fold). The LC50 for chlorfenapyr ranged from 0.43 (Recife) to 42.23 (Bezerros II) mg a. i./L (RR50 varying up to ~100-fold). Plutella xylostella populations developed resistance to chlorfenapyr and spinosad. Apparently, there was no alteration of the resistance levels to chlorantraniliprole in the field. Cross-resistance between spinosad and spinetoram (RR50 ~ 150-fold) as well as between the spinosyns and chlorfenapyr was observed. The field populations were susceptible to concentration corresponding to label doses of spinosad (mortality > 80 %) and chlorfenapyr (mortality > 80 %), but a considerable loss of susceptibility to both insecticides was observed. Immediate attention to correct rotation of products is necessary to delay development of resistance in this pest.

Detection of insecticidal resistance against various insect pests in vegetable crops at Raipur

Bioassay methods such as leaf dip and larvae dip were used in the laboratory conditions for testing lethal dose of insect pests conducted at laboratory of department of entomology, IGKV, Raipur (C.G.) during 2009-2010. At least five dilutions for each of the selected insecticides were tested using different methods. In each method and insecticide at least 10 larvae of 2-3 rd instars were released on each dilution in 3 replications along with untreated control. The results shown that the Helicoverpa armigera population was maximum LD 50 value to Chlorpyriphos (O.633 μg/lit) followed by Spodoptera litura population LD 50 (0.576 μg/lit) and lower value for Leucinodes arbonalis LD 50 (0.503 μg/lit) and the Plutella xylostella population showed maximum LD 50 value to Cypermethrin (0.810μg/lit) and lower LD 50 value (0.246 μg/lit) for Trichoplusia ni. Therefore, H. armigera showed higher resistance to Chlorpyriphos and P. xylostella showed higher resistance towards Cypermethrin.

Determinants of parasitoid assemblages of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, in cabbage farmer fields in Senegal

Conservation biological control, which fosters the optimal use of indigenous natural enemies, is a promising way for reducing pesticide reliance in horticultural systems. A two-year field survey was conducted in the main cabbage-producing area in Senegal (Niayes) to assess the potential of indigenous parasitoids to control populations of Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera, Plutellidae). Results showed an overall low level of parasitism (11.7%) which was independent of host abundance, but was highly variable among fields (0–50%). Parasitism was predominant in the late part of dry season. Insecticide use, mostly relying on broad-spectrum insecticides, had a negative effect on the overall parasitism rate. Observations conducted throughout the cabbage crop cycle showed that parasitism unexpectedly decreased with crop aging (from 41 to 60 days post transplanting), likely due to repeated insecticide applications. Four main parasitoid species including Oomyzus sokolowskii (Kurdjumov) (Eulophidae) (48.8%), Apanteles litae Nixon (Braconidae) (32.5%), Brachymeria sp. (Chalcididae) (11.3%), and Cotesia vestalis Haliday (Braconidae) (7.3%) were identified. Parasitism due to O. sokolowskii was greater during the first part of the dry season whereas parasitism due to A. litae was greater during the second part of the dry season. Parasitism due to Brachymeria sp. was not affected by time of season but was greater in the Centre and North than in the South of Niayes. Parasitism due to C. vestalis was equal in the three zones but was higher in the late part of the dry season. The diversity of parasitoids was constant across zones but was greater during the second part of dry season. A positive relationship between diversity (Shannon diversity index H′) and parasitism rate was observed, suggesting a positive effect of parasitoid diversity on natural pest control. Parasitoids have a promising role to play as biocontrol agents of P. xylostella populations in Senegal, provided significant changes to current insecticide use are made. Better knowledge of their resource requirements including crop and non-crop habitats, and provision of these in and around crops is also needed.

Genetic differentiation of the regional Plutella xylostella populations across the Taiwan Strait based on identification of microsatellite markers.

Movement of individuals through events, such as storms or crop transportation, may affect survival and distribution of insect pests, as well as population genetic structure at a regional scale. Understanding what factors contribute to gene flow in pest populations remains very important for sustainable pest management. The diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) is an insect pest well known for its capacity of moving over short to long distances. Here, we used newly isolated microsatellite markers to analyze the genetic structure of nine populations across the Taiwan Strait of China (Taiwan and Fujian). A total of 12,152 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were initially identified from the P. xylostella transcriptome (~94Mb), with an average of 129 SSRs per Mb. Nine SSRs were validated to be polymorphic markers, and eight were used for this population genetic study. Our results showed that the P. xylostella populations could be divided into distinct two clusters, which is likely due to the year-round airflows in this region. A pattern of isolation by distance among the local populations within Fujian was found, and may be related to vegetable transportation. Considering the complexity of the P. xylostella population genetic structure from local and regional to global levels, we propose that developing ecologically sound strategies for managing this pest will require knowledge of the link between behavioral and population ecology and its genetic structure.

Novel mutations and mutation combinations of ryanodine receptor in a chlorantraniliprole resistant population of Plutella xylostella (L.).

A previous study documented a glycine to glutamic acid mutation (G4946E) in ryanodine receptor (RyR) was highly correlated to diamide insecticide resistance in field populations of Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae). In this study, a field population collected in Yunnan province, China, exhibited a 2128-fold resistance to chlorantraniliprole. Sequence comparison between resistant and susceptible P. xylostella revealed three novel mutations including a glutamic acid to valine substitution (E1338D), a glutamine to leucine substitution (Q4594L) and an isoleucine to methionine substitution (I4790M) in highly conserved regions of RyR. Frequency analysis of all four mutations in this field population showed that the three new mutations showed a high frequency of 100%, while the G4946E had a frequency of 20%. Furthermore, the florescent ligand binding assay revealed that the RyR containing multiple mutations displayed a significantly lower affinity to the chlorantraniliprole. The combined results suggested that the co-existence of different combinations of the four mutations was involved in the chlorantraniliprole resistance. An allele-specific PCR based method was developed for the diagnosis of the four mutations in the field populations of P. xylostella.

Effects of plant availability on population size and dynamics of an insect community: diamondback moth and two of its parasitoids

To understand the effect of plant availability/structure on the population size and dynamics of insects, a specialist herbivore in the presence of two of its parasitoids was studied in four replicated time-series experiments with high and low plant availabilities; under the latter condition, the herbivore suffered from some periods of resource limitation (starvation) and little plant-related structural refuges. Population dynamics of the parasitoid Cotesia vestalis was governed mainly by the delayed density-dependent process under both plant setups. The parasitoid, Diadegma semiclausum, under different plant availabilities and different coexistence situations (either +competitor or -competitor) showed dynamics patterns that were governed mainly by the delayed density process (significant lags at weeks 2-4). Both the competing parasitoids did not experience beneficial or costly interferences from each other in terms of their own population size when the plant resource was limited. Variation in the Plutella xylostella population under limited plant availability is higher than that under the other plant setup. For both parasitoids, under limited plant setup, the extinction risk was lower when parasitoids were engaged in competition, while under the unlimited plant setup, the mentioned risk was higher when parasitoids competed. In this situation, parasitoids suffered from two forces, competition and higher escaped hosts.

Functional analysis of a point mutation in the ryanodine receptor of Plutella xylostella (L.) associated with resistance to chlorantraniliprole

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) has developed extremely high resistance to chlorantraniliprole and other diamide insecticides in the field. A glycine to glutamic acid substitution (G4946E) in the P. xylostella ryanodine receptor (PxRyR) has been found in two resistant populations collected in Thailand and Philippines and was considered associated with the diamide insecticides resistance but no experimental evidence was provided. The present study aimed to clarify the function of the reported mutation in chlorantraniliprole resistance in P. xylostella. We identified the same mutation (G4946E) in PxRyR from four field collected chlorantraniliprole resistant populations of Plutella xylostella in China. Most importantly, we found that the frequency of the G4946E mutation is significantly correlated to the chlorantraniliprole resistance ratios in P. xylostella (R(2) = 0.82, P = 0.0003). Ligand binding assays showed that the binding affinities of the PxRyR to the chlorantraniliprole in three field resistant populations were 2.41-, 2.54- and 2.60-times lower than that in the susceptible one. For the first time we experimentally proved that the G4946E mutation in PxRyR confers resistance to chlorantraniliprole in Plutella xylostella. These findings pave the way for the complete understanding of the mechanisms of diamide insecticides resistance in insects.

Competition between isolates of Zoophthora radicans co-infecting Plutella xylostella populations

Interactions between Zoophthora radicans isolates were studied in vitro and in vivo during infection of Plutella xylostella larvae. We distinguished between isolates within infected hosts using PCR-RFLP. Isolates obtained from P. xylostella larvae (NW386 and NW250) were more virulent than isolates from other insect hosts. Isolate NW250 was most virulent at 27°C and isolate NW386 was most virulent at 22°C. In vitro growth of all isolates except NW386 was affected by the presence of other isolates. During in vivo interactions between NW250 and NW386, the isolate with the greatest conidial concentration at inoculation infected more larvae than its competitor. Dual infected larvae were only found in treatments where inoculation concentrations of conidia were high for both isolates. Where concentrations of conidia at inoculation were low for both isolates, only NW250 caused successful infection. The implications of these results for the ecology of Z. radicans are discussed.

Parasitismo de Trichogramma pretiosum Riley, 1879 (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) em diferentes hospedeiros e cores de cartelas

Espécies do gênero Trichogramma são dos inimigos naturais os mais estudados e utilizados atualmente no mundo. A qualidade e o desempenho desses agentes de controle produzidos massalmente podem ser influenciados por alguns fatores, tais como a escolha do hospedeiro adequado para multiplicação do parasitoide e a utilização de diferentes cores de cartelas, haja vista que estes parasitoides podem utilizar estímulos físicos como cor para facilitar a localização do hospedeiro. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar à influência de cores de cartelas no parasitismo de Trichogramma pretiosum que foi submetido a ovos do hospedeiro alternativo Anagasta kuehniella e duas populações de Plutella xylostella, sendo uma delas criada no substrato brócolis e a outra em couve. Ovos dos hospedeiros foram aderidos às cartelas de papel cartão, sendo que as cores selecionadas foram: azul, amarela, verde, rosa, vermelha e preta. Para cada tratamento foram observadas 20 repetições, cada uma composta por 30 ovos dos hospedeiros. Posteriormente, as cartelas foram expostas às fêmeas do parasitoide individualizadas em tubos tipo Eppendorf® de 2,0 mL que continha uma gotícula de mel para alimentação delas por 24 horas, em teste de confinamento. Foram avaliados o número de ovos parasitados e a porcentagem de emergência. A linhagem Tp-8 de T. pretiosum apresentou maior parasitismo em ovos de A. kuehniella. Os substratos de alimentação de P. xylostella (couve e brócolis) não influenciam o parasitismo de T. pretiosum. As cores de cartelas indicadas para a condução da criação massal de T. pretiosum são azul, verde e branco.

Onion as a Pest Control Intercrop in Organic Cabbage (Brassica oleracea) Production System in Ghana

The use of chemical insecticides in the control of insect pests has left in its wake resistance of some pests to some of the conventional insecticides. Alternative methods of managing pests such as cultural control have to be employed to reduce pest infestation of crops. Onion was used in an intercrop as a non host crop to manage the pests of cabbage. The experiment was conducted in a Randomized Complete Block Design with four treatments; sole cabbage (T1), 2 rows of cabbage to 1 row of onion (T2), 3 rows of cabbage to 1 row of onion (T3) and 4 rows of cabbage to 1 row of onion (T4), each of which was replicated three times. Data were collected on pests’ numbers, plant height, damaged leaves at harvest, canopy spread, number of damaged heads and fresh weight. Significantly fewer Bemisia tabaci, Hellula undalis and Brevicoryne brassicae infested the intercropped plants than the sole crop. However, intercropping cabbage with onion did not significantly reduce Plutella xylostella population on cabbage. Number of damaged heads, fresh weight and damaged leaves were significantly different (P< 0.05).

Competition and co-existence of Zoophthora radicans and Pandora blunckii, two co-occurring fungal pathogens of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella

The entomopathogenic fungi Zoophthora radicans and Pandora blunckii co-occur in field populations of Plutella xylostella and, therefore, are likely to interact during the infection process. We have investigated the possible outcomes of these interactions in the laboratory. Using four isolates, two of each fungal species, inter-specific interaction experiments were done in Petri dishes and on intact plants. In Petri dish experiments, larvae were inoculated directly using sporulating mats of mycelium, both species had the same opportunity to infect and only the relative concentration of conidia of each pathogen species applied was manipulated. In the intact plant experiments, larvae were placed onto fungus-contaminated plants, inoculation was passive and the probability of infection by either or both species of fungi depended on larval activity and proximity to inoculum. In the Petri dish experiment, the species with the largest concentration of conidia out-competed the other regardless of virulence, and results were similar in the intact plant experiment. The ecological implications for competition or co-existence of these two pathogens in the field are discussed.

Effects of temperature on fitness costs, insecticide susceptibility and heat shock protein in insecticide-resistant and -susceptible Plutella xylostella

Effects of high temperature on insecticide susceptibility and fitness were studied in the field population of Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) (R DBM) and a susceptible field–insectarium population of P. xylostella (S DBM). R DBM displayed 18.3-fold resistance to methamidophos and 74.0-fold resistance to avermectin. The population growth tendency index ( I) values were 41.8 (S DBM) and 27.7 (R DBM) at 25 °C, and 1.19 (S DBM) and 0.23 (R DBM) at 33.5 °C. The level of methamidophos resistance in the progenies of R DBM declined sharply when reared at high temperature for one generation. The increase of susceptibility to methamidophos appeared to pass from generation to generation. S DBM displayed higher up-regulation of Hsp70 expression at high temperature than R DBM. It was suggested that low fitness in R DBM caused by high temperature might be involved in the sharp decline of methamidophos resistance under high temperature conditions.

Evidence for resistance to pyrethroids and organophosphates inPlutella xylostella(Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) from Pakistan

The susceptibility of representative pyrethroid (cypermethrin, deltamethrin, lambdacyhalothrin, bifenthrin), organophosphate (chlorpyriphos, triazophos, profenophos) and new chemistry insecticides (spinosad, indoxacarb and emamectin) was investigated for 18 field populations of Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus) from three different zones in Pakistan. The LC(50) (mg ml(-1); 48 h) values of pyrethroids for various populations ranged from 0.19-1.88 for cypermethrin, 0.31-2.64 for deltamethrin, 0.08-1.16 for lambdacyhalothrin and 0.07-0.88 for bifenthrin. The LC(50) (mg ml(-1); 48 h) of organophosphates ranged from 0.52-5.67 for chlorpyriphos, 0.37-4.14 for triazophos and 0.03-2.65 for profenophos. The most probable reason for low toxicity of organophosphates and pyrethroids is the evolution of multiple resistance mechanisms; however, further studies are required to establish these mechanisms. When these same products were tested against a susceptible laboratory population (Lab-Pak), the new chemistry compounds were significantly more toxic than pyrethroids and organophosphates. The results are discussed in relation to integrated pest management and insecticide resistance management strategies for P. xylostella.

ISSR-PCR: Tool for discrimination and genetic structure analysis of Plutella xylostella populations native to different geographical areas

The diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella (L.) is considered as the most destructive pest of Brassicaceae crops world-wide. Its migratory capacities and development of insecticide resistance in many populations leads to more difficulties for population management. To control movement of populations and apparitions of resistance carried by resistant migrant individuals, populations must be identified using genetic markers. Here, seven different ISSR markers have been tested as a tool for population discrimination and genetic variations among 19 DBM populations from Canada, USA, Brazil, Martinique Island, France, Romania, Austria, Uzbekistan, Egypt, Benin, South Africa, Réunion Island, Hong Kong, Laos, Japan and four localities in Australia were assessed. Two classification methods were tested and compared: a common method of genetic distance analyses and a novel method based on an advanced statistical method of the Artificial Neural Networks’ family, the Self-Organizing Map (SOM). The 188 loci selected revealed a very high variability between populations with a total polymorphism of 100% and a global coefficient of gene differentiation estimated by the Nei’s index ( Gst) of 0.238. Nevertheless, the largest part of variability was expressed among individuals within populations (AMOVA: 73.71% and mean polymorphism of 94% within populations). Genetic differentiation among the DBM populations did not reflect geographical distances between them. The two classification methods have given excellent results with less than 1.3% of misclassified individuals. The origin of the high genetic differentiation and efficiency of the two classification methods are discussed.

Impact of botanical extracts derived from Melia azedarach and Azadirachta indica on populations of Plutella xylostella and its natural enemies: A field test of laboratory findings

Differences between results from ecological laboratory studies and what actually happens in the field can be large. Therefore, field experiments are essential to validate laboratory findings. In previous laboratory trials we investigated the impact of aqueous leaf extracts from the syringa tree, Melia azedarach L. (Meliaceae) and commercial formulations from the neem tree, Azadirachta indica Juss. (Meliaceae), Neemix 4.5®, on the biology and behaviour of the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella and two of its most abundant parasitoids, Cotesia plutellae and Diadromus collaris. In the laboratory we had demonstrated that these botanical extracts had adverse effects on survival, fecundity, development, oviposition and feeding of P. xylostella, but no direct negative effects on the survival and foraging of the parasitoids. In the current study, we verified the importance of these previous laboratory findings through field experiments. We treated cabbage plants in the field with the neem product and syringa extract and assessed the infestation levels of P. xylostella and the parasitism rates by natural enemies. Infestation levels of P. xylostella were similar in the plots treated with the botanical extracts and the control plots. However, the damage in the treated plots was significantly lower than in the control plots, indicating that reduced feeding by P. xylostella was a more important factor in the reduction of damage than the actual population density. The proportion of marketable cabbages was significantly higher in the treatments than in the control. The proportion of parasitoids found emerging from P. xylostella was also significantly higher in the treated plots than in the control plots and direct observations indicated that parasitoids still visited cabbage plants that had been treated with the botanical extracts.

Genetic differentiation among various populations of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella Lepidoptera Yponomeutidae

Genetic variation among 14 populations of Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus) from USA (Geneva, New York), Brazil (Brasilia), Japan (Okayama), The Philippines (Caragan de Oyo), Uzbekistan (Tashkent), France (Montpellier), Benin (Cotonou), South Africa (Johannesburg), Réunion Island (Montvert), and five localities in Australia (Adelaide, Brisbane, Mareeba, Melbourne, Sydney) were assessed by analysis of allozyme frequencies at seven polymorphic loci. Most of the populations were not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and had a deficit in heterozygotes. The global differentiation among populations was estimated by the fixation index (Fst) at 0.103 for the 14 populations and at 0.047 when populations from Australia and Japan, which differed most and had a strong genetic structure, were excluded from the analysis. By contrast, the populations from Benin (West Africa) and Brazil (South America) were very similar to each other. Genetic differentiation among the populations was not correlated with geographical distance.

Seasonality in neotropical populations of Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera): resource availability and migration

AbstractThe present study aimed to verify (1) whether seasonal increases in neotropical populations of Plutella xylostella are directly provoked by regular influxes of migrants, and (2) whether temporal variation in food availability is the ecological process behind such predictable events. Over 3 years, plants that P. xylostella prefers were cultivated and irrigated in order to provide a continuous and abundant supply of food. Nevertheless, seasonal oscillations in the population of the herbivore still occurred. The hypothesis of seasonal availability of host plants could not explain the population pattern. In April, when the insect was practically extinct from the area, an artificial infestation (immigration) with 10,000 pupae established a precocious population. Therefore, the start of the natural cycles of population growth, during July–August, seems to be due to external factors, rather than an improvement in local conditions for resident individuals. In the beginning of the natural cycles, the increase in the density of adults significantly preceded the increase in immatures. Plutella xylostella does not diapause, and therefore immigration is the proximate cause of the seasonal population increases. Hypotheses about local factors are suggested to explain the decreasing phase of the predictable population cycles.