贵州稻区褐飞虱种群对六种杀虫剂的抗性动态

【目的】为明确贵州褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens种群对常用杀虫剂的抗性水平。【方法】在室内采用浸渍法测定了2013-2015年采自贵州黄平、桐梓和开阳3地的褐飞虱种群对6种杀虫剂(吡虫啉、噻虫嗪、异丙威、噻虫胺、啶虫脒和醚菊酯)的抗性。【结果】贵州褐飞虱种群对不同的杀虫剂存在着抗性差异。与敏感品系相比,2013-2015年间3地田间褐飞虱种群对吡虫啉、噻虫嗪、异丙威、噻虫胺的抗性均达到中等水平抗性,抗性倍数(resistance ratio,RR)分别为21.88~95.38,10.91~69.36,13.00~57.23和23.11~39.54倍;而对啶虫脒和醚菊酯仍处于敏感阶段,RR分别为0.47~0.75和0.41~0.85倍。【结论】褐飞虱对吡虫啉和噻虫嗪的抗性较高,可能与近年来广泛地大量使用有关。本研究的抗性动态监测结果对贵州稻区褐飞虱的杀虫剂种类调整及施药策略等具有重要指导作用。     

棉蚜啶虫脒抗性种群交互抗性和增效剂增效作用的研究

【目的】明确棉蚜Aphis gossypii Glover啶虫脒抗性品系与其它杀虫剂的交互抗性现状以及增效剂的增效作用,为延缓和治理棉蚜对啶虫脒的抗性提供依据。【方法】采用单头反选育和群体汰选的方式,获得了棉蚜啶虫脒敏感和抗性品系;采用叶片药膜法测定了13种杀虫剂对啶虫脒的交互抗性以及增效剂对啶虫脒的增效作用。【结果】经过室内棉蚜敏感和抗性品系的筛选,获得了相对抗性倍数为82.33倍的棉蚜啶虫脒抗性品系。棉蚜啶虫脒抗性品系的交互抗性谱的研究表明,交互抗性倍数小于5的药剂为:吡蚜酮,甲基阿维菌素;交互抗性倍数在5~10倍的药剂为:噻虫嗪,联苯菊酯,毒死蜱,马拉硫磷,丙溴磷,辛硫磷;交互抗性倍数在10~15倍的药剂为:硫丹,阿维菌素,高效氯氰菊酯,三唑磷,氧化乐果;交互抗性倍数大于1 5倍的药剂为:吡虫啉。增效剂实验表明,TPP和PBO在啶虫脒敏感品系中增效作用不明显,但在抗性品系中增效作用显著。在啶虫脒抗性品系中的增效比为1.77、1.61,在啶虫脒敏感品系中的增效比为1.02、1.03。DEM在啶虫脒抗性、敏感品系中的增效作用均不明显,增效比为1.04、1.02。TPP和PBO对啶虫脒有很好的增效作用。以室内棉蚜敏感品系(LC_(50)为0.180 mg/L)为基础,对新疆各主要棉区的棉蚜种群进行了啶虫脒药剂的抗性调查,结果表明新疆各主要棉区棉蚜对啶虫脒的相对抗性倍数为6.1~22.0倍。【结论】由此说明新疆主要棉区棉蚜对啶虫脒具有一定的抗性风险,生产中可以利用无交互抗性的吡蚜酮和甲基阿维菌素来治理抗性棉蚜种群。     

抗苄呋菊酯淡色库蚊对其它拟除虫菊酯的交互抗性

1978年秋末从上海闸北区采得淡色库蚊用苄呋菊酯选育获得高达960倍的抗性品系(Res品系),它对被测定的其它拟除虫菊酯具有不同程度的交互抗性,抗性倍数从7倍(天然除虫菊酯)至7,342倍(戊氰菊酯)。交互抗性大于90倍以上的是醇部位中带有3-苯氧基苄基的二氯苯醚菊酯及其顺、反异构体或醇部位中带有`α``-氰基-3-苯氧基苄基的溴氰菊酯和戊氰菊酯。具有高抗性的4种杀虫剂(包括苄呋菊酯)分别与增效剂增效醚(Pb)或磷酸三苯酯(TPP)以1:1的比例混用后的结果表明,抗性机制与多功能氧化酶和酯酶皆有密切关系,但氧化酶抑制剂增效醚(Pb)的增效效果明显地要强于酯酶抑制剂磷酸三苯酯(TPP)的增效效果。     

褐飞虱对五种杀虫剂抗性的快速检测技术

【目的】建立褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens对常用杀虫剂抗性的快速检测技术,实时掌握田间褐飞虱种群的抗药性水平,以指导褐飞虱防控合理用药。【方法】基于玻璃瓶药膜法,研制褐飞虱3龄若虫对吡虫啉、啶虫脒、醚菊酯、毒死蜱和异丙威5种杀虫剂抗性的快速检测试剂盒;利用试剂盒测定的死亡率与稻苗浸渍法测得的抗性倍数进行相关性分析,并验证利用试剂盒快速测定褐飞虱田间种群对5种杀虫剂 抗性水平的准确性。【结果】处理1 h时吡虫啉、啶虫脒、醚菊酯、毒死蜱和异丙威对褐飞虱室内敏感种群3龄若虫的LD₉₀分别为：30.96, 92.05, 117.24, 514.21和1.24 ng/cm²。在吡虫啉、啶虫脒、醚菊酯、毒死蜱和异丙威相应诊断剂量下,贵州省不同田间种群褐飞虱3龄若虫的校正死亡率分别在23.75%~78.75%, 25.00%~78.75%, 43.75%~88.75%, 36.25%~85.00%和18.75%~67.50%之间。相关性分析表明,上述田间种群褐飞虱3龄若虫的死亡率与稻苗浸渍法测定的抗性倍数呈显著负相关,相关系数在0.8751~0.9754之间。通过快速检测试剂盒获得的死亡率及相关性方程计算得到贵州安龙地区(AL)褐飞虱种群对吡虫啉、啶虫脒、醚菊酯、毒死蜱和异丙威的推测抗性倍数分别为7.23, 3.68, 4.14, 4.12和31.18,采用稻苗浸渍法测得上述5种杀虫剂的实测抗性倍数分别为6.33, 5.24, 3.71, 4.50和26.56,表明推测抗性倍数与实测的抗性倍数结果表现一致。【结论】该快速检测试剂盒可以通过测定褐飞虱田间种群的死亡率,快速评估褐飞虱田间种群对杀虫剂的抗性水平。     

kdr突变和解毒代谢在B型烟粉虱对高效氯氰菊酯抗性中的作用

本研究明确了kdr突变和解毒代谢在B型烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci对高效氯氰菊酯抗性中的作用。B型烟粉虱NJ品系相对于烟粉虱敏感品系（SUD-S,非B型）对高效氯氰菊酯有266倍的抗性。对NJ品系用高效氯氰菊酯进行群体筛选获得抗性为811倍的NJ-R1品系,对NJ品系进行单对交配筛选获得抗性达2 634倍的NJ-R2品系。在NJ,NJ-R1和NJ-R2品系间,酯酶、多功能氧化酶和谷胱甘肽S-转移酶活性无显著差异,说明在筛选过程中解毒代谢没有发生变化。PASA检测结果表明,NJ-R2品系钠离子通道基因L925I突变（kdr突变）频率为100%,NJ-R1品系为80.6%,NJ品系为55%。由此可见,kdr突变频率的增加是B型烟粉虱种群对高效氯氰菊酯抗性上升的主要原因。在NJ,NJ-R1和NJ-R2品系中,增效醚（PBO）对高效氯氰菊酯的增效作用均为20倍左右,而PBO对SUD-S品系没有任何增效作用。PBO能同时抑制烟粉虱的多功能氧化酶和酯酶,通过与TPP增效作用进行对比表明,在B型烟粉虱中PBO所产生的增效作用主要来源于对酯酶的抑制。因此,B型烟粉虱品系（NJ-R2,NJ-R1和NJ）与非B型SUD-S品系相比存在20倍左右的先天抗性,该先天抗性主要与B型烟粉虱的特有酯酶有关。在B型烟粉虱品系对高效氯氰菊酯的抗性中,抗性水平完全由kdr突变频率高低所决定。     

褐飞虱对马拉硫磷的抗性遗传和交互抗性研究

毒力测定显示,抗马拉硫磷品对杀螟松、二嗪磷、异丙威和仲丁威都有明显的交互抗性产生,但对醚菊酯和吡虫啉没有表现出显的交互抗性。抗性遗传研究显示,正交和反交后代F1和F1'的显性值D分别为0.4014和0.3780,说明抗性主效基因是不完全显性的。通过自交后代F2和回交后代BC的LD-p线观察及与期望曲线比较,证明抗性遗传由两个或两个以上的基因控制。     

烟粉虱对拟除虫菊酯杀虫剂的抗性机理

通过增效剂生物测定、生化分析以及钠离子通道基因ⅡS4-6 cDNA片段的RT-PCR扩增,探讨了烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci（Gennadius）对拟除虫菊酯杀虫剂的抗性机理。结果表明：对于采自田间的6个烟粉虱抗性品系,磷酸三苯酯（TPP）和胡椒基丁醚（PBO）对氯氰菊酯、溴氰菊酯、氯氟氰菊酯和甲氰菊酯均有显著的增效作用,而DEM对4种拟除虫菊酯杀虫剂均无明显的增效作用。烟粉虱抗性品系的α-NA羧酸酯酶和β-NA羧酸酯酶活性分别是敏感品系的2.16～2.65倍和1.22～1.41倍,抗性品系的谷胱甘肽S转移酶活性与敏感品系没有差异,表明羧酸酯酶和多功能氧化酶在烟粉虱对拟除虫菊酯类杀虫剂的抗性中具有重要的作用,而谷胱甘肽S转移酶与抗性无关。通过RT-PCR克隆了6个烟粉虱田间抗性品系的钠离子通道结构域ⅡS4-6 cDNA片段的序列（420 bp）,发现与敏感品系相比,有2个位点发生突变,分别为L925I突变和I917V突变,L925I突变在所有6个烟粉虱田间抗性种群中均有发生,该位点突变已被证实与拟除虫菊酯类杀虫剂密切相关,表明神经不敏感性可能是烟粉虱对拟除虫菊酯产生抗性的另一个重要因子。     

截形叶螨抗哒螨灵品系和敏感品系体内解毒酶活性的变化

【目的】通过对截形叶螨 Tetranychus truncatus Ehara抗哒螨灵品系体内解毒酶活性分析和增效剂与哒螨灵混用的增效作用测定,明确截形叶螨对哒螨灵的抗性动态及抗性机理,获得抗性治理的途径。【方法】采用室内生测法培育截形叶螨抗哒螨灵品系,微量滴度酶标板测定抗性和敏感品系体内解毒酶比活性、米氏常数（K_m）及最大反应速度（V_max）,再用增效醚（PBO）、顺丁烯二酸二乙酯（DEM）和磷酸三甲苯酯（TPP）进行增效作用测定。【结果】室内筛选的截形叶螨对哒螨灵产生了抗性,筛选至49代,抗性倍数达到955.25;PBO,TPP和DEM对哒螨灵药剂有不同程度的增效作用,相对增效系数分别为95.97%, 85.14%和97.37%;抗哒螨灵品系体内的羧酸酯酶（CarE）、谷胱甘肽转移酶（GSTs）、多功能氧化酶（MFO）活性较敏感品系显著性提高（P＜0.05）,酸性磷酸酯酶（ACP）和碱性磷酸酯酶（ALP）的活性与敏感品系差异不大(P>0.05);抗性品系中的CarE,GSTs和MFO 3种解毒酶的米氏常数（K_m）下降,最大反应速度（V_max）高于敏感品系。【结论】截形叶螨对哒螨灵产生抗性可能与其体内CarE,GSTs和MFO 3种解毒酶与底物的亲和力提高和代谢能力增强有关;3种增效剂(PBO, TPP和 DEM)与哒螨灵混用能提高对截形叶螨的毒杀效果。     

甜菜夜蛾对氰戊菊酯和顺式氯氰菊酯的抗性机理

通过对活体增效作用进行测定和生化分析,探讨了甜菜夜蛾对氰戊菊酯和顺式氯氰菊酯的抗性机理.结果表明:增效醚(PBO)、增效磷(SV1)、磷酸三苯酯(TPP)和顺丁烯二酸二乙酯(DEM)对甜菜夜蛾抗氰戊菊酯品系(Fen-R)和敏感品系(S)的增效倍数之比分别为10.2、7.8、12.5和1.1,对抗顺式氯氰菊酯品系(Cyp-R)和敏感品系(S)的增效倍数之比分别为21.6、15.5、8.6和1.2.PBO、SV1和TPP对氰戊菊酯和顺式氯氰菊酯均有显著增效作用,表明多功能氧化酶和羧酸酯酶均参与了甜菜夜蛾对氰戊菊酯和顺式氯氰菊酯的抗性.Fen-R品系和Cyp-R品系4龄幼虫羧酸酯酶的活性分别是S品系的1.9和2.2倍,而谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶活性与S品系差异不显著,表明羧酸酯酶活性的提高是甜菜夜蛾对氰戊菊酯和顺式氯氰菊酯产生抗性的重要原因,谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶与两种药剂的抗性无关.Fen-R品系和Cyp-R品系的Na-K-ATPase活性与S品系均无显著差异,但在相同浓度下氰戊菊酯和顺式氯氰菊酯对S品系Na-K-ATPase的抑制作用显著高于抗性品系,表明抗性品系Na-K-ATPase对杀虫剂的敏感性已明显降低.     

甜菜夜蛾抗氯氟氰菊酯品系相对适合度、抗性生化机理及抗性遗传方式

比较了甜菜夜蛾Spodoptera exigua 抗氯氟氰菊酯品系和敏感品系的繁殖和生长发育特征。结果表明：抗性品系幼虫发育历期延长、蛹重减轻、化蛹率和产卵量降低,抗性品系的适合度为0.61,抗性品系在繁殖和生长发育上存在明显的生存劣势。用两品系3龄幼虫分别测定胡椒基丁醚（PBO）、增效磷SV₁）、脱叶磷（DEF）和顺丁烯二酸二乙酯（DEM）对氯氟氰菊酯的增效作用,抗性品系增效倍数与敏感品系增效倍数之比分别为14.1、14.8、2.3和2.3倍,胡椒基丁醚和增效磷对氯氟氰菊酯增效作用最明显,表明多功能氧化酶参与了甜菜夜蛾对氯氟氰菊酯的抗性。抗性品系3龄幼虫酯酶和谷胱甘肽S-转移酶的活性分别为敏感品系的1.05倍和0.91倍, 抗性品系5龄幼虫多功能氧化酶O-脱甲基活性为敏感品系的1.05倍,两品系间3种酶的活性差异不显著,表明甜菜夜蛾对氯氟氰菊酯的抗性与酯酶、谷胱甘肽S-转移酶及多功能氧化酶O-脱甲基酶活性无关。用剂量对数死亡机率值回归线分析法研究甜菜夜蛾对氯氟氰菊酯的抗性遗传规律,表明甜菜夜蛾对氯氟氰菊酯的抗性为常染色体遗传、多基因控制;正、反交后代的显性度分别为0.61和0.43,抗性遗传为不完全显性。     

Cross-resistance of bisultap resistant strain of Nilaparvata lugens and its biochemical mechanism

The resistant (R) strain of the planthopper Nilaparvata lugens (St?l) selected for bisultap resistance displayed 7.7-fold resistance to bisultap and also had cross-resistance to nereistoxin (monosultap, thiocyclam, and cartap), chlorpyrifos, dimethoate, and malathion but no cross-resistance to buprofezin, imidacloprid, and fipronil. To find out the biochemical mechanism of resistance to bisultap, biochemical assay was done. The results showed that cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450) activity in R strain was 2.71-fold that in susceptible strain (S strain), in which the changed activity for general esterase (EST) was 1.91 and for glutathione S-transferases only 1.32. Piperonyl butoxide (PBO) could significantly inhibit P450 activity (percentage of inhibition [PI]: 37.31%) in the R strain, with ESTs PI = 16.04% by triphenyl phosphate (TPP). The results also demonstrated that diethyl maleate had no synergism with bisultap. However, PBO displayed significant synergism in three different strains, and the synergism increased with resistance (S strain 1.42, Lab strain, 2.24 and R strain, 3.23). TPP also showed synergism for three strains, especially in R strain (synergistic ratio = 2.47). An in vitro biochemical study and in vivo synergistic study indicated that P450 might be play important role in the biochemical mechanism of bisultap resistance and that esterase might be the important factor of bisultap resistance. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) insensitivity play important role in bisultap resistance. We suggest that buprofezin, imidacloprid, and fipronil could be used in resistance management programs for N. lugens via alternation and rotation with bisultap.     

Biochemical mechanism of chlorantraniliprole resistance in Spodoptera litura (Fab) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Spodoptera litura, a polyphagus insect pest of economic importance, having the ability to develop resistance to various classes of insecticides was selected for the study. Leaf dip bioassay studies were done after ten generations of selection pressure reported the development of resistance up to 80 folds by S. litura against chlorantraniliprole compared to lab susceptible strain. Bioassay studies conducted using enzyme inhibitors such as triphenyl phosphate (TPP) followed by diethyl-maleate (DEM) and piperonyl butoxide (PBO) showed good amount of synergism with chlorantraniliprole and improved efficacy against resistant strain. Findings of bioassay studies were supported by in-vitro enzyme inhibition assays. Esterase activity in gut homogenate of resistant strain was significantly inhibited by TPP suggesting esterase mediated biochemical resistance development in S. litura against chlorantraniliprole.     

二化螟对杀螟硫磷产生抗性的机理

本文就二化螟Ckilo suppressalis Walker对杀螟硫磷抗性发生的机理进行了较为全面的研究。活体增效作用研究表明,脱叶磷(DEF)和氧化胡椒基丁醚(PBO)对抗性种群可分别增效1.3和34.8倍。这表明了多功能氧化酶(MFO)活性增强,而似乎与水解酶的活性无关。对寓体解毒酶的进一步研究表明,抗性和敏感种群的非特异性酯酶活力无明显差异,但羧酸酮酶(CarE,加入10^-4mol/L的毒扁豆碱)和MFO的活力在抗性种群中有所增高。R种群幼虫CarE活力分别是s的2.42和2.92倍(以a-和β-乙酸萘酯为底物);R种群幼虫MFO的O-脱甲基作用的活力为s幼虫的1.43倍(以对硝基茴香醚为底物);R幼虫乙酰胆碱酯酶(AChE)对乙酰胆碱的活力是s的1.3倍,两者相差不大。但从米氏常数K_m)和最大反应速度(V_max)看,R幼虫是s幼虫的1.9和1.6倍;以对氧磷为抑制剂的R幼虫150是s幼虫的2倍。这些表明了R和s的AChE是不同的。研究结果还表明,二化螟对杀螟硫磷抗性的机理至少包括：(1)CarE活性的增高;(2)MFO的O-脱甲基活力的增高和(3)AChE敏感性的降低等。     

二化螟对杀螟硫磷产生抗性的机理

本文就二化螟Ckilo suppressalis Walker对杀螟硫磷抗性发生的机理进行了较为全面的研究。活体增效作用研究表明,脱叶磷(DEF)和氧化胡椒基丁醚(PBO)对抗性种群可分别增效1.3和34.8倍。这表明了多功能氧化酶(MFO)活性增强,而似乎与水解酶的活性无关。对寓体解毒酶的进一步研究表明,抗性和敏感种群的非特异性酯酶活力无明显差异,但羧酸酮酶(CarE,加入10^-4mol/L的毒扁豆碱)和MFO的活力在抗性种群中有所增高。R种群幼虫CarE活力分别是s的2.42和2.92倍(以a-和β-乙酸萘酯为底物);R种群幼虫MFO的O-脱甲基作用的活力为s幼虫的1.43倍(以对硝基茴香醚为底物);R幼虫乙酰胆碱酯酶(AChE)对乙酰胆碱的活力是s的1.3倍,两者相差不大。但从米氏常数K_m)和最大反应速度(V_max)看,R幼虫是s幼虫的1.9和1.6倍;以对氧磷为抑制剂的R幼虫150是s幼虫的2倍。这些表明了R和s的AChE是不同的。研究结果还表明,二化螟对杀螟硫磷抗性的机理至少包括：(1)CarE活性的增高;(2)MFO的O-脱甲基活力的增高和(3)AChE敏感性的降低等。     

Multiple resistance and biochemical mechanisms of pyridaben resistance in Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae)

A field colony of Tetranychus urticae (Koch) (Acari: Tetranychidae) resistant to pyridaben was selected with pyridaben successively for 20 generations to produce the PR-20 strain. Resistance and multiple resistance levels of the PR-20 strain to 15 acaricides were determined using a spray bioassay. The PR-20 strain was extremely resistant to pyridaben (resistance ratio [RR] = 240]. The strain exhibited extremely strong resistance to fenpyroximate (RR=373) and acrinathrin (RR=329) and strong resistance to benzoximate (RR=84). An RR = 10-40 was observed with abamectin, fenazaquin, fenbutatin oxide, fenpropathrin, and tebufenpyrad. The PR-20 strain showed low levels of resistance (RR <10) to azocyclotin, bromopropylate, chlorfenapyr, dicofol, milbemectin, and propargite. Synergist experiments with different metabolic inhibitors revealed that piperonyl butoxide (PBO), a mixed function oxidase (MFO) inhibitor, had the greatest effect on pyridaben resistance. PBO significantly caused pyridaben resistance in the PR-20 strain to drop to the full susceptibility level of the susceptible (S) strain. However, there was no significant difference in MFO activities measured using a model substrate between the S and PR-20 strains. These results suggest that use of certain acaricides with little multiple resistance or PBO will be useful for the management of pyridaben resistance in the field.     

不同龄期棉铃虫用氰戊菊酯汰选对其抗性发展的影响

利用中抗(15.06倍)品系,室内用氰戊菊酯对棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera初孵至4龄幼虫分别进行连续汰选,选育9代后,以3龄幼虫汰选的抗性发展最快（31.5倍）, 其次是4龄、2龄幼虫汰选的品系（分别增加25.2倍和14.5倍）,用初孵幼虫汰选的抗性发展最慢（10.2倍）。抗性现实遗传力的测定表明,3龄幼虫汰选的抗性现实遗传力（0.4419）显著大于初孵幼虫的（0.2346）。代谢酶抑制剂的增效实验发现,磷酸三苯酯(TPP)对各品系棉铃虫均无明显增效作用。而增效醚(PBO)对高龄幼虫汰选的品系的增效作用比低龄幼虫汰选的品系增效作用强。测定初孵和3龄幼虫汰选品系试虫的击倒抗性发现,初孵幼虫汰选品系的抗性增加倍数（10.2）与击倒抗性增加的倍数（10.5）相似,而3龄幼虫汰选的抗性增加倍数（31.5）显著高于击倒抗性增加的倍数（19.9）。认为初孵幼虫期多功能氧化酶（MFO）表达不完全,用药主要是筛选击倒抗性,而高龄幼虫期用药则会同时筛选击倒抗性和MFO参与的代谢抗性。因而初孵幼虫期用药抗性发展缓慢。生产上不仅可以提高药剂的防效,同时可以延缓抗性的发展。     

Enhanced esterase gene expression and activity in a malathion-resistant strain of the tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris

Extensive use of insecticides on cotton in the mid-South has prompted resistance development in the tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois). A field population of tarnished plant bugs in Mississippi with 11-fold higher resistance to malathion was used to examine how gene regulation conferred resistance to this organophosphate insecticide. In laboratory bioassays, synergism by the esterase inhibitors S,S,S,-tributylphosphorotrithioate (DEF) and triphenylphosphate (TPP) effectively abolished resistance and increased malathion toxicity by more than 80%. Esterase activities were compared in vitro between malathion susceptible and resistant (selected) strains. More than 6-, 3- and 10-fold higher activities were obtained with the resistant strain using alpha-naphthyl acetate, beta-naphthyl acetate, and p-nitrophenyl acetate, respectively. Up to 95% and 89% of the esterase activity in the susceptible and resistant strains, respectively, was inhibited by 1 mM DEF. Inhibition of esterase activity up to 75% and 85% in the susceptible and resistant strains, respectively, was obtained with 0.03 mM TPP. Esterase activities in field populations increased by up to 5.4-fold during the fall season. The increase was synchronized with movement of the insect into cotton where exposure to pesticides occurred. Esterase cDNA was cloned and sequenced from both malathion susceptible and resistant strains. The 1818-nucleotide cDNA contained a 1710-bp open reading frame coding a 570 amino acid protein which was similar to many insect esterases conferring organophosphate resistance. No amino acid substitution was observed between susceptible and resistant strains, indicating that esterase gene mutation was not involved in resistance development in the resistant strain in Mississippi. Further examination of esterase gene expression levels using quantitative RT-PCR revealed that the resistant strain had a 5.1-fold higher level of esterase mRNA than the susceptible strain. The results of this study indicated that up-regulation of the esterase gene appeared to be related to the development of resistance in the tarnished plant bug.