Insecticide synergists: role, importance, and perspectives

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Entomology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Insecticide synergists have been used for 50 years to improve pesticide efficacy, especially against resistant insects.
• These compounds are generally considered non-toxic on their own but significantly boost insecticide lethality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the nature, mode of action, role in resistance management, natural occurrence, and research significance of insecticide synergists.
• To highlight the potential of synergists in overcoming metabolic resistance and delaying resistance manifestation.
• To explore the use of plant-derived synergists in pest management.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on insecticide synergists.
• Analysis of the biochemical mechanisms of synergist action, focusing on enzyme inhibition.
• Examination of the role of synergists in insect resistance management strategies.

Main Results:

• Synergists primarily act by inhibiting insect metabolic systems, particularly polysubstrate monooxygenases (PSMOs), which detoxify insecticides.
• This inhibition restores insect susceptibility to insecticides, aiding in overcoming metabolic resistance.
• Synergists can delay the development of insecticide resistance and are valuable tools for research into insecticide toxicity and resistance mechanisms.

Conclusions:

• Synergists are effective tools for managing insecticide resistance by inhibiting insect detoxification pathways.
• Further exploitation of natural synergists, particularly from plants, holds significant promise for integrated pest management.
• Synergists are vital for understanding insecticide action, resistance, and the effects of xenobiotics.