Comparison between the toxicity of synthetic pyrethroids and other compounds to the predacious miteAmblyseius gossipi (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae)

This work involves a comparison between the toxicity of four synthetic pyrethroids (cypermethrin, flucythrinate, fenvalerate and cyfluthrin), two organophosphorus compounds (pyridaphenthion and methamidophos) and a chlorinated hydrocarbon (dicofol) to the predacious miteAmblyseius gossipi El-Badry. Direct application of cypermethrin, flucythrinate and fenvalerate was moderately toxic to the adult females, while cyfluthrin was highly toxic. The most toxic compounds were pyridaphenthion and methamidophos, while the least toxic was dicofol. Residues of the synthetic pyrethroids, even at a non-toxic level, interrupted oviposition and decreased reproduction dramatically. Ingestion of cypermethrin, cyfluthrin and pyridaphenthion did not significantly increase mortality but significantly decreased the daily average egg production. In the case of cypermethrin and cyfluthrin, an increase in consumption of treated prey per day increased mortality at the higher density while egg production progressively decreased with cypermethrin, cyfluthrin and pyridaphenthion respectively.     

Effect of synthetic pyrethroids and other compounds on the susceptibility and development of the egg stage of the predacious miteAmblyseius gossipi [Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae]

Eggs from a laboratory culture ofAmblyseius gossipi El-Badry laid on cotton strands were placed on leaf discs and sprayed with various pesticides or water for 40 s. The eggs were allowed to dry and then transferred to new discs. Compounds tested were cypermethrin, flucythrinate, fenvalerate, cyfluthrin, pyridaphenthion, methamidophos, dichlorvos and dicofol. Only methamidophos was inactive on the egg stage. When sprayed at a level of 400 ppm, eggs were highly susceptible to flucythrinate, cyfluthrin, pyridaphenthion, and fenvalerate and were slightly susceptible to dichlorvos and dicofol. Viability of eggs decreased as the concentration of the effective compounds increased. Older eggs were more sensitive than younger ones. None of the larvae from eggs treated with flucythrinate and pyridaphenthion were able to develop beyond the larval stage.

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Résumé Les œufs d'un élevage de laboratoire d'Amblyseius gossipi El-Badry pondus sur des fibres de coton furent placés sur des disques de feuille et traités avec des produits phytosanitaires variés ou de l'eau durant 40 s. Les œufs une fois ressuyés furent transférés sur de nouveaux disques. Les composés testés furent la cypermethrine, le flucythrinate, le fenvalerate, le cyfluthrine, le pyridaphenthion, le metamidophos, le dichlorvos et le dicofol. Seul le methamidophos était inactif sur le stade œuf. Traités à la dose de 400 ppm, les œufs furent très sensibles au flucythrinate, au cyfluthrine, au pyridaphenthion et au fenvalerate et légèrement sensible au dichlorvos et au dicofol. La variabilité des œufs décroissait comme augmentait la concentration des composés efficaces. Des œufs agés furent plus sensibles que des œufs plus jeunes. Aucune des larves issues d'œufs traités au flucythrinate et au pyridaphenthion n'étaient capables de se développer au-delà du stade larvaire.

     

Effects of synergists on toxicity of six insecticides in parasitoid Diaeretiella rapae (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae)

The resistance to and the effects of synergists on the toxicity of six insecticides in Diaeretiella rapae (M'Intosh) (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae), a parasitoid of vegetable aphid collected in Jianxin at Fuzhou-City, Fujian, China, were studied. In comparison with susceptible F21 progeny, the resistance ratios in resistant F0 parents were 27.6 for methamidophos, 20.8 for fipronil, 47.5 for avermectin, 3.3 for fenvalerate, 4.5 for cypermethrin, and 74.7 for imidacloprid. Piperonyl butoxide (PB), triphenyl phosphate (TPP), and diethyl maleate (DEM) were chosen to be applied in susceptible F21 progeny, as well as in resistant F11 progeny and F0 parents. Significant synergistic effects on the toxicity of the six insecticides were found by using PB, TPP, and DEM in F0 parents; on methamidophos, avermectin, and imidacloprid by PB, TPP, and DEM in F11 progeny; on fipronil by PB and DEM in F11 progeny; and on fenvalerate and cypermethrin by PB in F11 progeny. PB also showed significant synergism on the six insecticides in susceptible F21 progeny, although the synergism was far less in F21 progeny than those in resistant F0 parents. TPP and DEM showed little or no synergistic effects on the toxicity of the six insecticides in F21 progeny. Compared with TPP and DEM, the highest synergistic ratios of PB for methamidophos, fipronil, avermectin, fenvalerate, cypermethrin, and imidacloprid were observed in F0 parents, and F11 and F21 progeny. The resistance levels to methamidophos, fipronil, avermectin, fenvalerate, and cypermethrin could be inhibited strongly by applying PB in F0 parents. From the results, oxidative degradation is believed to play a critical role in resistance to methamidophos, fipronil, avermectin, fenvalerate, and cypermethrin in D. rapae. To a lesser extent, hydrolytic reactions also were partially involved in the resistance to these five insecticides by using the synergists PB, TPP, and DEM. However, although high synergism of PB, TPP, and DEM on imidacloprid was found, the resistance levels to imidacloprid remained high in the presence of PB, TPP, and DEM. The mediated detoxification of oxidative degradation and hydrolytic reactions was thought to be involved in the resistance to imidacloprid in F0 parents.     

Susceptibility of Various Stages of Trichogrammatoidea armigera Nagaraja to Some Pesticides and Effect of Residues on Survival and Parasitizing Ability

The toxicity, persistence and effect on parasitism of 10 insecticides, eight fungicides and one acaricide on Trichogrammatoidea armigera Nagaraja, an egg parasitoid of a Helicoverpa armigera (Hb), were investigated in the laboratory and under field conditions. At field recommended dosages, the fungicides oxycarboxin, copperoxychloride, streptomycin sulphate + tetracycline hydrochloride and 2‐bromo‐2‐nitropropane‐1,3‐diol and the acaricide dicofol were safe, while the insecticide phosalone and fungicide tridemorph were moderately toxic to adults. All other insecticides tested, namely dimethoate, fenitrothion, monocrotophos, phosphamidon, endosulfan, cypermethrin, decamethrin, fenvalerate and fluvalinate, and the fungicides carbendazim, methyl thiophenate and carboxin were toxic to adults. A high level of parasitism was recorded for all fungicide treatments and for dicofol and fluvalinate. The larval stage of the parasitoid was more tolerant than other stages. The residual toxicity of all fungicides, and dicofol, did not affect the ability of the parasitoid to parasitize its host, while the insecticides phosalone and fluvalinate were slightly persistent, favouring 44.7% and 49.3% parasitism after 15 days. Residues of dimethoate, decamethrin, cypermethrin, fenvalerate, monocrotophos and phosphanidon were moderately persistent, while fenitrothion and endosulfan were persistent.     

Further Investigation of the Specificity of Interactions Between Wild Lactuca spp. and Bremia lactucae Isolates from Lactuca serriola

Callus cultures derived from isogenic lines of the tomato cultivars Moneymaker and Craigella, resistant or susceptible to F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, were inoculated with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici race 1. Fungal growth was restricted on callus derived from resistant plants, after inoculation with a conidial suspension, whereas callus derived from susceptible plants was totally overgrown by the fungus within 7 days. The concentration of the phytoalexin rishitin was significantly higher in the callus culture derived from a resistant tomato line compared with the callus culture from a susceptible line, 2 and 3 days after inoculation with mycelium. The results of the experiments were compared with experiments with whole plants. Rishitin production as well as growth of the fungus was comparable with responses in plant-fungus interaction. Therefore callus culture may be useful in studying the interaction between tomato plants and race 1 of F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici.     

The determination of physiological race of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici of tomato in Zhejiang, China

A group of differential tomato lines was used to identify the races of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici in Zhejiang, China. Marmande verte carries no resistant genes and Marporum carries gene I-1. Both lines Motelle and Mogeor have Gene I-1 and I-2. Tomato seedlings of eighteen days after sowing were inoculated with an isolate of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, No. 98-2 and kept in a growth chamber. The seedlings were evaluated at fourteen days after inoculation. Results showed that Marmande verte and Marporum were severely infected by the pathogen and established as susceptible. Motelle and Mogeor were not infected and established as resistant. These results indicated that the isolate No. 98-2 represented the race 2 of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici and gene I-2 is necessary for obtaining resistance to this pathogen in the Zhejiang region.     

Potentiation/Antagonism of pyrethroids with organophosphate insecticides in Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae)

The binary mixtures of pyrethroids cypermethrin, alpha-cypermethrin, zeta-cypermethrin, bifenthrin, fenpropathrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, and deltamethrin plus organophosphates ethion, profenofos, chlorpyrifos, quinalphos, acephate, methamidophos, methyl parathion, and triazophos were evaluated on putatively resistant field populations of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) from Pakistan using a leaf-dip bioassay. Ethion exhibited good potentiation with all the pyrethroids. Quinalphos potentiated cypermethrin, fenpropathrin, and lambda-cyhalothrin but not bifenthrin. Acephate was potentiating with bifenthrin and fenpropathrin but antagonistic with zeta-cypermethrin. A potentiation effect was also found when methamidophos was mixed with bifenthrin and fenpropathrin. However, profenofos was antagonistic with cypermethrin, bifenthrin, and lambda-cyhalothrin. Similarly, bifenthrin + methyl parathion and deltamethrin + triazophos mixtures were antagonistic when tested on several populations of B. tabaci. Chlorpyrifos was antagonistic with cypermethrin but had an additive effect with fenpropathrin.     

Biochemical characterization and purification of esterases from three strains of German cockroach,Blattella germanica (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae)

Three strains of German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.) showed varying levels of resistance to chlorpyrifos, methyl parathion, propoxur, bendiocarb, and cypermethrin. The general esterase activity was at least twofold higher than susceptible strain. The subcellular distribution studies revealed that the majority of the esterase activity is present in the 100,000g cytosolic fraction. Only a small portion of the activity was membrane bound. Using non-denaturing gel electrophoresis, ten isozymes were identified in German cockroaches. These isozymes were isolated individually from the gels and analyzed for differences in activity. The isozymes E5, E6, and E7 of resistant strains had significantly higher specific activities when compared with the susceptible strain. The purification process using various column chromatography and preparative gel electrophoresis resulted in 9–11% of total esterase recovery. About double the amount of E6 was recovered from the resistant strains when compared with the susceptible strain. Kinetic analyses of E6 did not indicate differences in K_m and V_max values between the resistant and susceptible strains. Also, inhibition of esterase activity by paraoxon, chlorpyrifos, and propoxur did not suggest any structural differences in esterase E6 between strains. The results suggest that the increased production of E6 esterase contributes to insecticide resistance in German cockroaches. The role of E6 may be sequestration of toxic molecules rather than hydrolysis. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Insecticide resistance in Brazilian Triatoma infestans and Venezuelan Rhodnius prolixus

Resistance levels to insecticides used in control of Chagas Disease vectors were assessed in two species of bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae): Triatoma infestans (Klug) from Brazil and Rhodnius prolixus Stål from Venezuela. The resistance ratios, compared to susceptible laboratory strains, were determined by topical application bioassays. The T. infestans PA strain exhibited resistance ratios of 7× to deltamethrin, 3.6× to β‐cyfluthrin and 3.3× to cypermethrin, but was susceptible to β‐cypermethrin and lambda‐cyhalothrin. Rhodnius prolixus CA strain showed resistance to all the pyrethroids evaluated, the resistance ratios ranging between 4.5× to lambda‐cyhalothrin and 12.4× to cypermethrin. Deltamethrin resistance in both strains was decreased by piperonyl butoxide, suggesting oxidative metabolism as cause of resistance.     

运用α-氰代酯荧光底物检测抗性棉蚜羧酸酯酶代谢活性

为了研究抗性和敏感棉蚜Aphis gossypii品系对菊酯类药剂代谢的差异, 本实验合成了溴氰菊酯和高效氯氰菊酯报告荧光底物, 应用这两种底物水解后生成具有荧光化合物的特性,测定了不同品系棉蚜羧酸酯酶的代谢活性。结果表明: 氧化乐果棉蚜抗性和敏感品系羧酸酯酶对溴氰菊酯报告荧光底物的代谢活性分别为10.0和3.4 pmol/min·mg; 对高效氯氰菊酯报告荧光底物的代谢活性分别为4.0和2.4 pmol/min·mg, 抗性品系羧酸酯酶对溴氰菊酯和高效氯氰菊酯报告荧光底物的代谢活性分别为敏感品系的2.9和1.7倍; 溴氰菊酯棉蚜抗性和敏感品系羧酸酯酶对溴氰菊酯报告荧光底物的代谢活性分别为7.6和6.2 pmol/min·mg; 对高效氯氰菊酯报告荧光底物的代谢活性分别为9.3和5.2 pmol/min·mg, 抗性品系羧酸酯酶对溴氰菊酯和高效氯氰菊酯报告荧光底物的代谢活性分别为敏感品系的1.2和1.8倍。这种衍生的报告荧光底物能够用来检测抗性棉蚜羧酸酯酶的水解活性, 表明羧酸酯酶可能参与棉蚜对溴氰菊酯和氧化乐果抗性的形成。     

Some Biochemical Abnormalities Caused by Cypermethrin in Adults of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst.)

Biochemical effects of sub lethal doses LC₁₀ and LC₂₀ of cypermethrin were studied on some enzymes and macromolecule activities of adult beetles of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst.). Cypermethrin caused disturbances in levels of all biochemical components under study. The dose of 0.78 ppm caused abnormalities in α‐amylase and FAA by increasing their activities i.e., 45.45% and 21.97% significantly. The higher sub lethal dose of 2.62 ppm disturbed all the parameters (AcP, α‐amylase, soluble protein and FAA) except AkP, which was decreased by 93.06%. Moreover, sub lethal doses either increased or decreased the levels of all parameters non‐significantly except AkP and FAA which were effected significantly by 87.92% and 14.29% at lower and higher doses, respectively. In the present studies, cypermethrin significantly enhanced the activity of AkP in both susceptible and resistant strains of T. castaneum adult beetles while FAA contents were increased significantly in resistant strain only. The activity of α‐amylase was significantly lowered in susceptible strain only.     

Toxicity of pyrethroids and effect of synergists to larval and adult Helicoverpa zea, Spodoptera frugiperda, and Agrotis ipsilon (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Based on 48 h LD50 estimates from topical bioassays, cypermethrin was more toxic than permethrin to Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) larvae and adults; however, the two pyrethroids did not differ significantly in their relative toxicities to Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) and Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagle). Larvae of each species generally were more susceptible to cypermethrin and permethrin than respective adults. The only exception to this generalization occurred with H. zea where slight overlap of the 95% confidence intervals with larvae and adult males was observed with cypermethrin. Respective males and females of the three species usually did not differ significantly in their susceptibility to either cypermethrin or to permethrin; however, with A. ipsilon, females were more susceptible to permethrin than to cypermethrin. Several instances of greater than additive toxicity were noted when insects were treated with piperonyl butoxide, S,S,S-tri-n-butyl phosphorotrithioate (DEF), or amitraz 30 min before cypermethrin. DEF exhibited the broadest spectrum of synergistic activity.     

Mutations at the Asc locus of tomato confer resistance to the fungal pathogen Alternaria alternata f. sp. lycopersici

The fungal pathogen Alternaria alternata f. sp. lycopersici produces host-selective AAL-toxins that cause Alternaria stem canker in tomato. Susceptibility to the disease is based on the relative sensitivity of the host to the AAL-toxins and is controlled by the Asc locus on chromosome 3L. Chemical mutagenesis was employed to study the genetic basis of sensitivity to AAL-toxins and susceptibility to fungal infection. Following the treatment of seeds of a susceptible line with ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS), resistant M₂ mutants were obtained. Most plants with induced resistances showed toxin-sensitivity responses that were comparable to those of resistant control lines carrying the Asc locus. In addition, genetic analysis of the mutagenised plants indicated that the mutations occurred at the Asc locus. Furthermore, novel mutants were identified that were insensitive to the AAL-toxins at the seedling stage but toxin-sensitive and susceptible to fungal infection at mature stages. No AAL-toxin-insensitive insertion mutants were identified following a transposon mutagenesis procedure. Molecular mechanisms involved in host defence against A a. lycopersici are discussed.     

Multiple Resistance and Biochemical Mechanisms of Dicofol Resistance in Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae)

A field colony of Tetranychus urticae (Koch) resistant to dicofol was selected with dicofol successively for 20 generations to produce the DR-20 strain. Resistance and multiple resistance levels of the DR-20 strain to 15 acaricides were determined using a spray bioassay. The DR-20 strain was extremely resistant to dicofol [resistance ratio (RR), 465]. The strain showed extremely strong resistance to acrinathrin (RR, 373) and benzoximate (RR, 197) and strong resistance to bromopropylate (RR, 136), fenbutatin oxide (RR, 65), fenpropathrin (RR, 70), fenpyroximate (RR, 68), and pyridaben (RR, 63). A RR of 11–29 was observed with abamectin, fenazaquin, milbemectin, propagite, and tebufenpyrad. The DR-20 strain exhibited low levels of resistance (RR<3) to azocyclotin and chlorfenapyr. In comparative assays with detoxifying enzymes, the DR-20 strain showed 4.7-fold higher activity in p-nitroanisole-O-demethylation and 1.6-fold higher activities in both α- and β-naphthyl acetate hydrolysis. Synergist experiments with different metabolic inhibitors revealed that piperonyl butoxide, iprobenfos, triphenyl phosphate, and 4, 4-dichloro-α-methyl benzhydrol had little or no synergistic activity in the susceptible and DR-20 strains. These results suggest that employment of certain acaricides with little multiple resistance will be useful for the management of dicofol resistance in the field.     

The resistance to Oidium lycopersici conferred by ol-2 gene in tomato

The powdery mildew caused by Oidium lycopersici is one of the most destructive diseases in glass-house-grown tomato and is widespreading all over the world. A high level of resistance to O. lycopersici was found in an accession of Lycopersicon esculentum var. cerasiforme at the Department of Biology and Plant Pathology, University of Bari. The genetic analysis of F1, F2 and BC plants indicated that the resistance is conferred by a single recessive gene, designed as ol-2. Studies on the infection process of O. lycopersici on susceptible and ol-2 gene resistant tomatoes were carried out at 24 °C and 90 % relative humidity. Light microscope observations on conidia germination, formation of primary appressoria, elongation of hyphae and sporulation were made on artificially inoculated basal, intermediate and apical leaves. Inoculation was made by shaking mildewed tomato leaves over each test plant. Disease development were assessed by removing the fungal structure from the leaf surface with the ceroidin film technique and by direct observations of stained inoculated leaves. The rate of conidial germination and the appressoria formation was not affected by host genotype. Mycelia growth and sporulation on leaf surface of resistant plant was strongly restricted and influenced by the leaf age. The results indicated that the resistance in ol-2 tomato is postinfectional and is not associated with a hypersensitive response. This work was supported by the MURST and CNR (Paper no. 331)     

Glutathione S-transferase detoxification as a potential pyrethroid resistance mechanism in the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais

Insecticide resistance patterns among 16 Brazilian populations of the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), were recognized by surveying resistance to three organophosphates (chlorpyrifos‐methyl, malathion, and pirimiphos‐methyl) and three pyrethroids (cypermethrin, deltamethrin, and permethrin). Two population clusters were obtained: one with three populations (Bragança Paulista, Cristalina, and Nova Andradina) showing low frequency of cypermethrin resistance (13–36%) and negligible frequency of deltamethrin resistance (2–9%); and another with six populations (Campos dos Goytacazes, Ivinhema, Patos de Minas, Penápolis, Uberlândia, and Venda Nova) showing low to negligible levels of pyrethroid resistance (0–23%). The remaining seven populations, including a susceptible, and a DDT‐ and pyrethroid‐resistant reference populations (Sete Lagoas and Jacarezinho, respectively), were significantly different from each other and from the two recognized clusters. In contrast with pyrethroid resistance, organophosphate resistance was negligible except for chlorpyrifos‐methyl in two populations (Fátima do Sul and Penápolis). There was no correlation between geographic distance and the Mahalanobis distance estimated from the resistance pattern ordination of the populations by canonical variate analysis, suggesting local selection and/or broad dispersal of resistant populations by grain trade. The results of biochemical in vitro studies measuring the activity of detoxification enzymes (esterases and glutathion S‐transferases) in conjunction with canonical correlation analysis suggest a major involvement of enhanced conjugation by glutathione S‐transferases (> 2‐fold increase) in pyrethroid resistance and, in the case of cypermethrin resistance, enhanced phosphotriesterase activity.     

Pyrethroids as Promising Marine Antifoulants: Laboratory and Field Studies

Due to the regulations and bans regarding the use of traditional toxic chemicals against marine fouling organisms and the practical impediments to the commercialization of natural product antifoulants, there is an urgent need for compounds that are antifouling-active, environmentally friendly, and have a potential for commercial application. In this study, a series of common, commercially available pyrethroid products, which are generally used as environmentally safe insecticides, was evaluated for antifouling activity in the laboratory using an anti-settlement test with cyprids of the barnacle Balanus albicostatus and also in a field experiment. Laboratory assay showed that all eleven pyrethroids (namely, rich d-trans-allethrin, Es-biothrin, rich d-prallethrin, S-prallethrin, tetramethrin, rich d-tetramethrin, phenothrin, cyphenothrin, permethrin, cypermethrin, and high active cypermethrin) were able to inhibit barnacle settlement (EC₅₀ range of 0.0316 to 87.00 μg/ml) without significant toxicity. Analysis of structure–activity relationships suggested that the cyano group at the α-carbon position had a significant influence on the expression of antifouling activity in pyrethroids. In the field, the antifouling activity of pyrethroids was further confirmed, with the most potent pyrethroids being cypermethrin and high active cypermethrin, which displayed efficiency comparable with that of tributyltin. In summary, our investigation indicated that these pyrethroids have a great and practical commercial potential as antifouling agents.     

Assessment of insecticide resistance in five insect pests attacking field and vegetable crops in Nicaragua

Field populations of Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari), Plutella xylostella (L.), Spodoptera exigua (Hübner), Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) and Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) were tested for resistance to several insecticides commonly used in Nicariagua. Assays were conducted to estimate the LD50s or LC50s and the corresponding resistance ratios. A diagnostic concentration was used to discriminate between susceptible and resistant strains of H. hampei. The tests with >6,000 H. hampei adults collected from six different sites indicate the absence of resistance to endosulfan. Resistance to cypermethrin, deltamethrin, chlorfluazuron, thiocyclam, and methamidophos was documented in six field populations of P. xylostella. High levels of resistance to cypermethrin and deltamethrin, but moderate levels of resistance to chlorpyriphos and methomyl, were also documented in two field populations of S. exigua. Moderate levels of resistance to cypermethrin, deltamethrin and chlorpyriphos were also documented in three field populations of H. zea. Moderate to high levels of resistance to bifenthrin, methamidophos and endosulfan were documented in four field populations of B. tabaci. The presence of significant correlations between LD50s or LC50s suggests the occurrence of cross-resistance or simultaneous selection for resistance by different insecticides with different modes of action. Our data could not differentiate between these two possibilities. Because insecticides will continue being used in Nicaragua, a resistance management program is urgently needed. The implementation of integrated pest management tactics must be accompanied by specific regulations for pesticide registration. In the future, pesticide registration regulations in Nicaragua should include periodic resistance monitoring. The mechanisms to cover the costs of resistance monitoring and resistance management should also be established.     

The response of tomato seedling roots to infection by Verticillium albo-atrum or Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici

The response of seedling roots of near-isogenic tomato varieties to infection by Verticillium albo-atrum or Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici was investigated. Studies of the infection of seedling roots not artificially damaged indicated that there was an extra-vascular expression of resistance towards V. albo-atrum but not to F. oxysporum. Roots of resistant tomato seedlings infected by V. albo-atrum contained the fungus in the epidermis and outer cortex while susceptible roots became heavily colonised. Observations made by transmission electron microscopy showed that the fungus appeared to be abnormal in growth and appearance in the epidermal and cortical cells of resistant seedling roots but normal in susceptible roots. Two preformed antifungal terpenoids were detected in seedling roots in greater amounts in resistant that in susceptible varieties. The possible mechanisms of seedling root resistance to vascular wilts are discussed.     

Does cypermethrin affect enzyme activity,respiration rate and walking behavior of the maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais)?

Insecticides cause a range of sub‐lethal effects on targeted insects, which are frequently detrimental to them. However, targeted insects are able to cope with insecticides within sub‐lethal ranges, which vary with their susceptibility. Here we assessed the response of three strains of the maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to sub‐lethal exposure to the pyrethoid insecticide cypermethrin. We expected enzyme induction associated with cypermethrin resistance since it would aid the resistant insects in surviving such exposure. Lower respiration rate and lower activity were also expected in insecticide‐resistant insects since these traits are also likely to favor survivorship under insecticide exposure. Curiously though, cypermethrin did not affect activity of digestive and energy metabolism enzymes, and even reduced the activity of some enzymes (particularly for cellulase and cysteine‐proteinase activity in this case). There was strain variation in response, which may be (partially) related to insecticide resistance in some strains. Sub‐lethal exposure to cypermethrin depressed proteolytic and mainly cellulolytic activity in the exposed insects, which is likely to impair their fitness. However, such exposure did not affect respiration rate and walking behavior of the insects (except for the susceptible strain where walking activity was reduced). Walking activity varies with strain and may minimize insecticide exposure, which should be a concern, particularly if associated with (physiological) insecticide resistance.