Resistance incidence and presence of resistance mutations in populations of Tetranychus urticae from vegetable crops in Turkey

Abstract

Tetranychus urticae Koch is one of the most common and harmful pests in vegetable production areas. Similar to other countries, control of T. urticae is mainly based on acaricides in Turkey. However, T. urticae rapidly develops resistance and failures in chemical control have occurred frequently. The toxicity of various acaricides was investigated in ten T. urticae populations collected from vegetable crops in Turkey. In addition, populations were screened for the presence of currently known target-site resistance mutations. It was shown that resistance to bifenthrin was the most widespread, but also half of the populations were resistant to abamectin and hexythiazox. Resistance mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) and chitin synthase 1 were found in various populations. Moreover, for the first time, F1538I and L1024V VGSC mutations were reported for Turkish populations. Mutations that confer resistance to abamectin, bifenazate and METI-I acaricides such as pyridaben were not detected. These results will contribute to the design of an effective resistance management program in Turkey.

Keywords: Chitin synthase I; Cyflumetofen; Insecticide resistance; Resistance mutations; Voltage-gated sodium channel.