Principles of insecticide action on mushroom cropping: incorporation into casing

The incorporation of organophosphorous insecticides into the casing layer of mushroom beds reduces the numbers of mushrooms, according to a logistic relationship with log₁₀ (dose). The cumulative numbers at any flush are affected in this way, and the response of individual flushes may, therefore, be represented by the difference between two logistic curves. This explains the observed increases in numbers in the second and third flushes following diazinon treatment and in the fourth following thionazin, pirimiphos-methyl and pirimiphos-ethyl. No compensation in numbers followed chlorfenvinphos treatment. This decreasing response pattern reflected the increasing residual action of the insecticides. Mushroom size was inversely related to numbers but even when numbers in any flush were unaffected by the treatment, there was usually an increase in size. Thus yield increases occurred in most flushes at commercial concentrations of four insecticides (thionazin compensated only in the fourth flush) and total yields were increased by 8 to 13%.     

Insecticide granule distribution and the control of Lycoriella auripila (Diptera: Lycoriidae) in mushroom casing material

In laboratory tests the distribution of insecticide in peat–chalk mushroom casing greatly affected the number of adult sciarids which emerged from larvae placed in 50 g samples. Only thionazin markedly reduced emergences when granules were clumped in the centre of the sample of casing. The slope of dosage mortality data for clumped granule treatments was less steep than for mixtures and gave estimated LD₉₅ values of 16300 and 26.8 ppm respectively. Thus, the number of adults which emerged when granules amounting to 6.4 mg of chlorfenvinphos were clumped was 65% of those emerging when only 0.4 mg a.i. was mixed into 50 g casing. However, adults did not emerge when 3.2 mg of the same insecticide was mixed throughout the sample. Increased doses did not, therefore, compensate for inadequate mixing. With 0.2–0.4 mg a.i. chlorfenvinphos mixed through the casing, about three times as many sciarids emerged with the intact granules than when pulverized granules were used. This showed the lack of mobility of this chemical in peat-chalk mixtures and the need for it to be homogeneously incorporated in commercial casing. Pirimiphos-ethyl, diazinon and thionazin also gave improved kills when mixed into the casing rather than clumped. A χ² test of the mortality data suggested a non-linear dosage-mortality relationship for treatments amounting to half the dish. However, LD₉₅ estimates of 37.5 and 62.2 ppm were obtained for mixed and quadrant treatments. Thus, when 3.2 mg chlorfenvinphos was mixed into only half of the volume of casing, the number of adults emerging was only 6% of that from untreated casing. However, larval movement was negligible in untreated casing and this appeared to limit the effectiveness of chlorfenvinphos and pirimiphos-ethyl when they were not evenly distributed throughout the casing. With thionazin and diazinon, mobility of the insecticide appeared to compensate for uneven distribution.     

Effects of oximecarbamate, organophosphate and benzimidazole nematicides on life cycle stages of root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne spp.

A study was made of the effects of concentrations of 2 to 32 ppm of oximecarbamate, organophosphate and benzimidazole nematicides on the hatch, larval viability and migration of Meloidogyne javanica, M. incognita and M. hapla and on development of M. javanica in roots. Aldicarb at less than 8 ppm had little effect on hatch and methomyl markedly affected only the hatch of M. hapla. As little as 2 ppm of fenamiphos or thionazin markedly reduced hatch of all three species but less than 8 ppm ethoprophos significantly reduced only the hatch of M. incognita and phorate had little effect on hatch. Benomyl and thiabendazole had no significant effects on hatch. When egg masses of M. incognita were transferred from nematicides which suppressed hatch to water, hatching occurred, but aldicarb, fenamiphos, ethoprophos and thionazin significantly reduced total hatch. None of the nematicides killed larvae of the three species immersed in 16 and 32 ppm solutions of them for 3 days. Aldicarb at 2 ppm reduced migrations of all three species; the effects of methomyl, fenamiphos or thionazin on migration varied according to species, while phorate, ethoprophos, benomyl or thiabendazole had little or no effect on migration. Aldicarb or thionazin at 2 ppm stopped development of M. javanica in roots of tomato seedlings while methomyl, ethoprophos or fenamiphos at 4 ppm reduced development by 60% and at 8 ppm of ethoprophos or fenamiphos or 16 ppm of methomyl, development was stopped. Phorate had little effect on development and benomyl or thiabendazole had no effect. Nematicide concentrations which reduced development prevented the normal orientation of larvae in the roots and reduced or prevented giant cell formation.     

Plant and soil nematode population changes in wheat grown continuously in ploughed and in unploughed soil

In general, more migratory plant-parasitic nematodes are found in soil under cereals drilled after ploughing than in unploughed land drilled after being sprayed with weed-killer; but some non-parasitic nematodes are more numerous in the unploughed, herbicide-sprayed soil. Spraying a mixture of DDT, diazinon, chlordane and thionazin on the soil before drilling did not affect populations of soil nematodes.     

American wigeon mortality associated with turf application of diazinon AG500.

Nine fairways of a golf course located in Bellingham, Washington were treated with diazinon AG500 at a target application rate of 2.2 kg active ingredient (AI) per ha. The chemical application with a "boomless" sprayer resulted in a variable distribution of diazinon residues on the turf (associated with a deep thatch layer) that ranged from 1.0 to 6.2 kg AI/ha. The diazinon-treated turf was irrigated with 1.3 cm of water immediately following application. The post-irrigation diazinon residue levels ranged from 100 to 333 ppm (mean = 209; SD = 88; n = 8). These residue levels were higher than expected based on results of turf studies in other regions of the United States. Eighty-five American wigeon (Anas americana) died after grazing on one treated fairway on the day of application following irrigation. The brains of all 85 wigeon were analyzed for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. Wigeon that died on the study area (n = 85) showed 44% to 87% depression of AChE (mean = 76%; SD = 7.1%) when compared to control wigeon (n = 3; AChE Activity = 1.86) AChE levels. Upper GI tract contents of 15 of the 85 dead wigeon contained 0.96 to 18.1 ppm diazinon. Extensive carcass searches revealed no other avian mortality attributable to diazinon toxicity on the treated study area. Although initial post-irrigation diazinon residues in grass samples were higher than expected, diazinon levels in grass samples on day seven post-application had declined to an average of 29 ppm. American wigeon appear to be vulnerable to exposure to diazinon.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Studies on the persistence and effects on soil fauna of some soil-applied systemic insecticides

Granular formulations of menazon, phorate and thionazin were applied to a sandy loam soil (pH = 6·1)in April and May as in-row treatments at commercial rates. They were also broadcast and mixed into the top 4 in of soil at concentrations (10 and 250 ppm of dry soil) which simulated the local in-row concentrations in areas large enough for sampling. Bioassays showed that 50 % of phorate, thionazin and menazon equivalents had disappeared in about 68, 57 and 23 days respectively from soil treated with 10 ppm of the insecticides. Small residues of the 250 ppm treatments still remained 2 years later. The initial rate of loss of activity of thionazin applied at 250 ppm was much slower than from a 10 ppm application whereas the activities of 250 and 10 ppm of menazon disappeared at similar rates. Phorate at 250 ppm killed almost all earthworms, Collembola, Acarina, free-living saprophytic and parasitic nematodes and Protozoa; 10 ppm phorate and 250 ppm of menazon also killed almost all Collembola and Acarina but the menazon was relatively harmless to earthworms. Collembola and mite populations began to increase when residues of phorate and menazon equivalents had decreased to about 2 and 20 ppm respectively, and after 15 months they were similar to those in untreated plots. The broadcast treatments initially decreased the rate of breakdown of leaf discs put in the soil but, after about 4 weeks, breakdown increased, sometimes above that in untreated plots. This was associated with a large increase in numbers of Enchytraeidae which were apparently unaffected by the insecticides. Four months after application, 1 lb/acre of phorate and 2 lb of menazon applied in seed drills 2 ft apart were not affecting Collembola in soil between the rows but were still decreasing the numbers within them. In -row phorate distributed along a 1·5 in diameter band of soil, 3 in deep, killed Collembola 3 in on either side but not 6 in away. It did not spread upwards in toxic quantities, but after rainfall, sufficient to kill Collembola leached at least 3 in downwards. We conclude that commercial in-row applications of chemicals like phorate are most unlikely to harm soil fertility, especially as the leaf-litter-destroying function of Collembola and other animals killed by phorate may be taken over by Enchytraeidae.     

Comparative effects of Steinernema feltiae (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) and insecticides on yield and cropping of the mushroom Agaricus bisporus

In a mushroom crop (Agaricus bisporus) affected by a very low level of sciarid fly (Lycoriella auripila) infestation, the effects of an indigenous isolate of insect-parasitic nematode (Steinernema feltiae) and of two commonly used insecticides (diazinon and diflubenzuron) were studied. When compared with untreated plots, nematodes applied to the casing had no adverse effects on mushroom yields whereas insecticides decreased yields. At a rate of 3 × 10⁶ infective juveniles per tray (surface area = 0.56 m²), S. feltiae elicited increases of 28.5% and 19% in the mean total numbers and weights of mushrooms respectively. Treatment only with diflubenzuron resulted in 14.6% and 6% reductions in mean total numbers and weights of mushrooms, respectively; treatment with both diazinon and diflubenzuron caused 18.5% and 9.4% losses. Application of nematodes generally reduced the mean weight per mushroom whereas insecticides increased it; nematodes delayed the onset of mushroom production (first flush) whereas diflubenzuron delayed the third and fourth flushes. Nematode contamination of sporophores was minimal when S. feltiae was applied at casing. Although their numbers declined with time, the nematodes persisted, in the casing layer, throughout the cropping period of seven weeks. It is concluded that yield benefits associated with nematode application can result mainly from nematode effects on A. bisporus and not solely from suppression of a damaging pest population.     

The effects on soil fauna of insecticides tested against wireworms (Agriotes spp.) in wheat

The organophosphorus insecticides Bayer 38156 (O-ethyl S-p-tolyl ethyl phosphonodithioate), trichloronate, Stauffer N 2790 (O-ethyl S-phenyl ethyl phosphonodithioate), thionazin and fenitrothion were compared with aldrin, dieldrin and γ-BHC for their effects on soil fauna, particularly wire-worms, and on crop yields in 1964 and 1965. At 1·5 lb active ingredient/acre, none of the organophosphates had as great an effect on wireworms as an aldrin spray at 2·25 lb a.i./acre or a dieldrin seed dressing at 2·25 lb a.i./acre. Some treatments significantly increased and some significantly decreased numbers of mites and Collembola. Except for Allolobophora chlorotica in plots treated with Bayer 38156, earthworm numbers were greater in plots sprayed with Bayer 38156 or aldrin, or sown with dieldrin-dressed seeds, than in untreated plots. In May 1964, one month after sowing, untreated plots had significantly fewer plants than plots sprayed with aldrin, trichloronate or Bayer 38156, or sown with γ-BHC or dieldrin-dressed seeds, but yields from untreated plots at harvest were high for such a large wireworm population and did not differ significantly from yields of treated plots in either year. The persistence of thionazin and Bayer 38156 in treated plots was measured by a bioassay using Collembola. Bayer 38156 was detected in plots 1 month after spraying but not after 6 months. Thionazin left detectable residues 1 month after spraying in the two acid plots but not in the two alkaline plots. More frequent samples taken from thionazin-treated plots in 1965 showed a similar pattern of persistence, and laboratory tests, using soil mixed with various amounts of powdered calcium carbonate, confirmed that thionazin persisted longer in more acid soils.     

Factors affecting the toxicity of diazinon to Musca domestica L

Processes affecting the toxicity of diazinon to a susceptible and a resistant strain of houseflies were examined. More evidence was obtained to show that slower penetration of diazinon through the integument of resistant flies is a cause of resistance. Small amounts of two decomposition products were found in both strains. The decomposition mechanisms, in these strains were differently distributed and, although detoxication of diazinon in the two strains is quantitatively similar and small, it may contribute to resistance. Traces of diazoxon were detected when diazinon was incubated with tissue extracts of either strain. Tissue extracts of resistant, but not of susceptible, flies decomposed significant amounts of diazinon in 1 hr. and the ability to decompose diazoxon seems to be an important cause of resistance. Tissues of both strains sorbed diazinon from aqueous solution similarly; the quantities sorbed were large and suggest that sorption may increase the amount of poison needed inside the insects to kill, by between five and forty times.     

Biology and control of the sciarid Lycoriella auripila Winn. (Diptera: Lycoriidae) in mushroom culture

The life-history of L. auripila, as a pest of mushrooms, is outlined and an explanation is given of the different types of damage caused. The most satisfactory control is based on the incorporation of insecticides in compost at spawning. Emulsions of chlorfenvinphos and diazinon at 50 ppm are lethal to young larvae for at least 7 weeks but granular formulations of the former must be applied at 100 ppm to achieve comparable results. Drenches of 0–01% malathion, applied at about 40 gal/1000 ft², are effective against larvae in the casing.     

Seasonal dynamics, dispersion, sequential sampling plans and treatment thresholds for the citrus leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), in a mature lemon block in coastal New South Wales, Australia

Abstract  Studies of citrus leafminer in a coastal orchard in NSW, Australia indicated that an increase in abundance to about one mine per flush was followed during the midseason flush by a rapid increase in population that was related to an increase in the percentage of leaves infested within flushes and the number of mines per leaf. The fits of frequency distributions and Iwao's patchiness regression indicated that populations were highly contagious initially, and as the exponent k of the negative binomial distribution increased with increasing population density, the distribution approached random. Concurrently, the coefficient of variation of mines per flush (which was strongly related to the proportion of un-infested flushes) decreased to about unity as the proportion of un-infested flushes reached zero and fell further as the number of mines per flush increased. Both numerative and binomial sequential sampling plans were developed using a decision threshold based on 1.2 mines per flush. The binomial sampling plan was based on a closely fitting model of the functional relationship between mean density and proportion of infested flushes. Functional relationships using the parameters determined from Iwao's patchiness regression and Taylor's power law were equally satisfactory, and one based on the negative binomial model also fitted well, but the Poisson model did not. The three best fitting models indicated that a decision threshold of 1.2 mines per flush was equivalent to 50% of flushes infested. From a practical point of view, the transition from 25% infestation of flushes through 50% is so rapid that it may be prudent to take action when the 25% level is reached; otherwise, the 50% may be passed before the crop is checked again. For valuable nursery stock should infestation be detected in spring, it may be advisable to apply prophylactic treatment as the midseason flush starts.     

Effects of Selected Chemical Pesticides on Agamermis unka (Nematoda: Mermithidae), a Parasite of the Brown Plant Hopper,Nilaparvata lugens

Selected commercial and technical grade pesticides were tested against the egg, preparasite and adult stages of Agamermis unka , a nematode parasite of the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens . The commercial insecticide, diazinon (LC = 0.37 ppm), was most toxic to the 50 preparasites, followed by phenthoate (LC = 0.43 ppm), BPMC (LC = 0.44 ppm), IBP 50 50 (LC = 0.46 ppm), cartap hydrochloride (LC = 0.82 ppm) and buprofezin + isoprocarb 50 50 (LC = 1.11 ppm). The least toxic commercial pesticide tested was the fungicide, pencycuron 50 (LC = 2.19 ppm). Out of 12 technical grade insecticides tested, phenthoate, monocrotophos, 50 diazinon and carbofuran (LC = 0.37-0.46 ppm) were highly toxic to the preparasites, followed by 50 buprofezin, BPMC and fenitrothion (LC = 0.74-0.86 ppm). Fenthion, etofenprox, chlorpyrifos, 50 imidacloprid and MIPC (LC = 1.11-2.19 ppm) were the technical grade insecticides least toxic 50 to the preparasites. Most preparasites survived for up to 24 h at the low insecticide concentrations (0.63 and 0.31 ppm). Preparasites that were exposed to BPMC for 24 h at concentrations as high as 5.0 ppm and survived the treatments infected brown planthopper nymphs. Four selected insecticides-chlorpyrifos, BPMC, imidacloprid and carbofuran-had significant adverse effects on A. unka egg hatching. Eggs that were in the insecticide solution for 168 h fared poorly with imidacloprid having the best survival ( > 2% of the eggs hatching at 0.04 ppm). No eggs hatched from the other insecticide treatments. Three selected insecticides, BPMC, imidacloprid and chlorpyrifos, tested against adult A. unka showed that most adults survived the exposure to the insecticides between 0.31 and 2.5 ppm. At 5.0 ppm of BPMC or chlorpyrifos none of the adults survived, whereas with imidacloprid 70% of the adults survived. Egg deposition by the surviving adults was greatly reduced in those treated with the insecticides compared with those in the controls. Imidacloprid had some negative impact on the preparasites' ability to infect BPH nymphs, but it had the least detrimental effect of the insecticides tested on preparasite survival and on the eggs and adults of A. unka .     

Control of potato cyst-nematode, Heterodera rostochiensis, in silt and peat loams by ten pesticides applied to the soil at planting time

Incorporated in silt or peat loam top-soil in spring before susceptible potatoes were planted, three carbamoyl oximes, aldicarb, Tirpate (2,4-dimethyl-2-formyl 1-1,3-dithiolane oxime iV-methylcarbamate) and Du Pont 1410 (S-methyl i-(dimethylcarbamoyl)-N-((methylcarbamoyl) oxy) thioformimidate) and one organophosphate, Nemacur (O-ethyl-O-(3-methyl-4-methylthiophenyl)-isopropylamidophosphate) all at n-2 kg a.i./ha greatly increased the yield of tubers and effectively controlled potato cyst-nematode (Heterodera rostochiensis Woll.). At the same dosage thionazin was as effective in the peat loam but was ineffective in the silt loam; phorate and Mocap (O-ethyl S,S-dipropyl phosphorodithioate) were less effective and chlorfenvinphos, diazinon and a coarse granule formulation of fensulphothion were ineffective in controlling potato cyst-nematode.     

Immunotoxicity and hepatic function evaluation in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) exposed to diazinon

The LC(50) of the organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) diazinon to Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) was determined, thereafter, hepatic activity, phagocytic index, percentages of active cells, relative spleen weight, total IgM concentration and lymphoproliferation rates were compared between diazinon exposed groups (LC(50) and (1/2)LC(50)) and non-exposed control group. Experimental data show that diazinon is highly toxic for juvenile Nile tilapia (LC(50)=7.830 ppm) and presents immunotoxic properties which affect both the innate and cellular adaptive immune responses of this fish, as revealed by the fact that splenocyte proliferation and phagocytic indices were significantly decreased after acute exposure to the pesticide. However, the hepatic biochemical parameters and the total circulating IgM concentrations were not affected in this experimental model.     

Rapid and sensitive pollutant detection by induction of heat shock gene-bioluminescence gene fusions.

Heat shock gene expression is induced by a variety of environmental stresses, including the presence of many chemicals. To address the utility of this response for pollutant detection, two Escherichia coli heat shock promoters, dnaK and grpE, were fused to the lux genes of Vibrio fischeri. Metals, solvents, crop protection chemicals, and other organic molecules rapidly induced light production from E. coli strains containing these plasmid-borne fusions. Introduction of an outer membrane mutation, tolC, enhanced detection of a hydrophobic molecule, pentachlorophenol. The maximal response to pentachlorophenol in the tolC+ strain was at 38 ppm, while the maximal response in an otherwise isogenic tolC mutant was at 1.2 ppm. Stress responses were observed in both batch and chemostat cultures. It is suggested that biosensors constructed in this manner may have potential for environmental monitoring.     

Comparative Assessment of biological (Nematoda: Steinernema feltiae) and chemical methods of control for the mushroom fly Lycoriella auripila (Diptera: Sciaridae)

The sciarid fly Lycoriella auripila is the major pest of mushrooms cultivated in the UK. Its larvae, which are capable of damaging the crop at all stages of production, may cause severe yield losses and can only be controlled with chemical pesticides. An indigenous isolate of the insect‐parasitic nematode Steinemema feltiae was tested as a biological control agent and its effects compared with two commonly used insecticides, diazinon and diflubenzuron. The timing of application of nematodes was found to affect their efficacy. When applied to compost during spawning, nematodes did not significantly reduce fly emergence, but they did if applied at casing when they were almost as effective as diflubenzuron. Diazinon incorporated into compost did not reduce fly emergence and was also the only treatment that did not lower the incidence of mushrooms spoiled by tunnelling of the larvae of L. auripila. When compared with untreated control plots those treated both with diazinon and diflubenzuron showed significant mean losses in yield of 10% in total weight and 17% in total numbers of mushrooms picked. In contrast, when S. feltiae was applied at casing significant mean increases in yield of 7% and 19%, respectively, were attained. Infective nematodes persisted well in casing, very few were found on sporophores.     

Relationship between the niacin skin flush response and essential fatty acids in schizophrenia

The skin flush response to niacin is selectively mediated by the release of vasodilatory prostaglandins from the skin. The normal skin flush response to niacin is attenuated in many individuals with schizophrenia (SCZ). This finding suggests abnormal prostaglandin signaling in SCZ. Since prostaglandins are derived from arachidonic acid (AA), the finding of an abnormal skin flush response is consistent with biochemical data suggesting relative depletion of AA, and other essential fatty acids (EFAs), in a substantial portion of people with SCZ. This paper will describe the mechanism of the skin flush response to niacin, and will review evidence that the response to niacin is abnormal in SCZ, that this abnormality is not related to psychotropic medications, and that it may be a marker of the EFA deficiency which has been documented to be present in many patients with SCZ.     

Risk evaluation for bovine embryo transfer services using computer simulation and economic decision theory

A mathematical model was used to evaluate the dynamics and risks in bovine embryo transfer. Variables included embryo collection, fertilization, and transfer rates, plus overall pregnancy rates. Decision analysis was applied to three sets of 500 simulated flushes to test three strategies: 1) nonsuperovulation, 2) superovulation using follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and 3) superovulation using pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG). Model validation involved comparing model performance against standards derived from 39 published studies. The model's repeatability was +/- 0.10 against standards in 93% of cases, and never exceeded +/- 0.13 in all 1500 simulations. Model outcomes were accurate to +/- 3% using average results. No pregnancies occurred in 22% of nonsuperovulated donors, 8% of FSH superovulated donors, and 6% of PMSG superovulated donors. PMSG treatment averaged more pregnancies per flush than FSH treatment (4.4 vs 3.9) but showed greater variation in response (64 vs 51%). Decision analysis suggests that a PMSG-induced flush would net $105 more than an FSH-induced flush, and that either superovulation strategy would yield approximately 10 times the net income of a nonsuperovulated flush. Pricing by response (PMSG) or by transfer (FSH) is optimal for the provider of embryo transfer services.     

Flowering Habit and Vegetative Behaviour in Tea (Camellia sinensis L) Seed Trees in North-East India

Apical growth of a tea shoot occurs by a succession of flushesseparated by short periods of rest. This paper describes theexternal morphology of flowering, fruiting, and abscission ofleaves of the tea plant in north-east India in relation to thephasic activity of shoot apices. All shoots on a tree make leafy growth when a new cycle of growthbegins in the spring, but terminal buds apparently become dormantas the season advances. Apparently dormant terminal buds shedbud scales, leaving on the stem a considerable number of scars,representing leafless cataphyllary flushes. These cataphyllaryflushes are produced at the same time as the leafy flushes onother shoots. A flower is formed only in the axil of a bud scale. Flowerswhich appear to develop in leaf axils are in fact inserted inthe axils of bud scales of the axillary buds. A distal leafy flush is without flowers. Flowers appear in itsleaf axils only when the terminal bud starts growth for thenext higher flush. A distal floriferous cataphyllary flush appearsas a terminal cluster of flowers. Thus, there is an acropetalsuccession of flowers, flush by flush on a caulome, determinedby the phasic activity of the apical bud. The main crop of flowers exposes anthers from the end of thethird flush (late September to early October) until the endof the winter period of growth (late January to early February).In some plants a second, minor crop of flowers appears in thespring between the end of the first and beginning of the secondflushes. In spite of considerable time lag between anthesis,the fruits produced by these two crops of flowers mature anddehisce at the same time during October to November. Abscission of leaves is also dependent upon the phasic activityof the apical buds. Only the top two flushes of a shoot possessleaves. Resumption of apical growth for a third flush, leafyor cataphyllary, causes the abscission of leaves on the lowermostof the three flushes. Two cataphyllary flushes therefore resultin the loss of all leaves on a shoot.     

Polygenic and Single Gene Responses to Selection for Resistance to Diazinon in Lucilia Cuprina

Following mutagenesis with ethyl methanesulfonate, selection in a susceptible strain with a concentration of the insecticide diazinon (0.0004%, w/v) above that required to kill 100% of the susceptible strain, the LC100 of that strain, resulted in a single gene response. The resultant four mutant resistant strains have equivalent physiological, genetical and biochemical profiles to a diazinon-resistant strain derived from a natural population and homozygous for the Rop-1 allele. Modification of the microsomal esterase E3 is responsible for resistance in each case. The Rop-1 locus maps approximately 4.4 map units proximal to bu on chromosome IV. Selection within the susceptible distribution, at a concentration of diazinon [0.0001% (w/v)] less than the LC100, resulted in a similar phenotypic response irrespective of whether the base population had been mutagenized. The responses were polygenically based, unique to each selection line and independent of Rop-1. The relevance of the results to selection for insecticide resistance in laboratory and natural populations is discussed.