| Abstract: | A strain (R) of Aphis gossypii from Southern France was found to be resistant to several insecticides, particularly to pirimicarb, as compared to a susceptible strain (S). Resistance levels were determined by biological tests, and the highest resistance factor (1350) was for pirimicarb. Resistance was mainly restricted to anticholinesterase inhibitors. Use of synergists, DEF and PB, suggested that resistance mechanisms based on detoxification were involved to a minor extent, since a good correlation was observed between I50 values and ki values of AChE and in-vivo bioassay data. The two strains differed in esterase activity, with a 27·7-fold increase in the R strain. Resolution of esterases by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed different patterns in the S and R strains, and two isozymes were less sensitive to pirimicarb in the S strain; however, no in-vitro degradation of 14C]pirimicarb was observed. These data suggest that the main mechanism of resistance was through a decrease in the sensitivity of the target, AChE, to the insecticides. © 1997 SCI. |
