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R79E Mutation in the Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor β1 Subunit Drives High-Level Resistance to Neonicotinoid
Kaixin Li1, Ningning Wu2, Jinghao Hu1
1College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao266109, P. R. China.
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
|June 23, 2026
Summary
Whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) show high resistance to neonicotinoids due to dual mutations in the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) β1 subunit gene. The R79E mutation is a key driver of this insecticide resistance in field populations.
Area of Science:
- Entomology
- Genetics
- Pest Management
Background:
- Bemisia tabaci is a major agricultural pest, transmitting over 200 plant viruses globally.
- This whitefly species has developed significant insecticide resistance, especially to neonicotinoids.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the genetic basis of neonicotinoid resistance in Bemisia tabaci.
- To understand the molecular mechanisms underlying insecticide resistance in agricultural pests.
Main Methods:
- Near-isogenic lines, bulked segregant analysis (BSA), and genetic linkage analysis were employed.
- Gene editing in Drosophila melanogaster and bioassays were used to validate mutation effects.
- A six-year resistance monitoring program was conducted on field populations.
Main Results:
- A major resistance locus was identified on chromosome 6, containing dual mutations in the nAChR β1 subunit gene.
- The R79E mutation was found to confer significant neonicotinoid resistance.
- Field populations with the R79E mutation exhibited high-level resistance, confirmed by monitoring.
Conclusions:
- The R79E mutation in the nAChR β1 subunit is a primary cause of high-level neonicotinoid resistance in Bemisia tabaci.
- These findings enhance understanding of target-site resistance mechanisms in pests.
- The study supports the development of molecular tools for insecticide resistance management.
