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Microinjection of Western Corn Rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, Embryos for Germline Transformation, or CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing
Published on: April 27, 2018
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Molecular characterization of western corn rootworm pyrethroid resistance
Dariane Souza1, Blair D Siegfried2, Lance J Meinke1
1Department of Entomology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA.
Pest Management Science
|September 18, 2020
Summary
Pyrethroid resistance in Western corn rootworm (WCR) is primarily driven by P450-mediated metabolism, not kdr mutations. Field-selected WCR populations reveal key resistance variants impacting insecticide efficacy.
Area of Science:
- Molecular biology
- Entomology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Western corn rootworm (WCR) exhibits pyrethroid resistance in the western US Corn Belt.
- Resistance mechanisms may involve enhanced metabolism or kdr target-site mutations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize WCR pyrethroid resistance mechanisms at the molecular level.
- To compare gene expression and sodium channel sequences in resistant and susceptible WCR populations.
Main Methods:
- RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) was used for pairwise comparisons of WCR populations.
- Gene expression levels and sodium channel sequences were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Seven transcripts showed differential expression between field-resistant and -susceptible WCR, with three overexpressed P450s.
- Ninety-nine transcripts were differentially expressed between lab-resistant and -susceptible WCR, with eight overexpressed P450s.
- No kdr mutations were detected in pyrethroid-resistant WCR populations.
Conclusions:
- P450-mediated metabolism is a major mechanism of WCR pyrethroid resistance.
- This resistance impacts the efficacy of insecticides with similar metabolic pathways.
- Field-selected WCR populations provide crucial variants for understanding resistance traits.
