Frequencies of insecticide resistance mutations detected by the amplicon sequencing in Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) and Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) from China

Abstract

Abstract The globally prevalent pests, Diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) and Beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), pose significant threats to cruciferous vegetables. They have rapidly developed resistance to a wide range of insecticides, leading to significant yield losses and increased control expenses. In this study, we have established an efficient approach utilizing amplicon sequencing to detect the frequency of 15 target resistance mutant sites in 6 molecular targets, acetylcholinesterase 1 (ACE1), chitin synthase 1 (CHS1), the γ-aminobutyric acid receptor (GABAR), glutamate-gated chloride channel (GluCl), voltage-gated sodium channels (NaV), and ryanodine receptor (RyR) in P. xylostella and the frequency of 11 mutations in 5 molecular targets (except GluCl) in S. exigua in China. Our findings indicate that P. xylostella exhibits remarkably high frequency (over 88.67%) in pyrethroid resistance-related mutations T929I and L1014F of NaV. In S. exigua, the frequencies of L659F mutation were ranging from 41.92% to 74.89%. In addition, the organophosphorus resistance-related mutations A298S and G324A of ACE1 were detected at frequencies ranging from 34.29% to 75.66%, and these 2 mutations occurred simultaneously (from 29.22% to 65.79%) in P. xylostella. An interannual variation in mutation frequency from 2019 to 2021 was found for P. xylostella in HNCS. The frequency of A298S and G324A mutations steadily increased while the frequency of G4946E and I4790M mutations continuously decreased. These results unveil a worrisome scenario of multiple resistance sites in these 2 pests in China and provide valuable insights for the practical application of pesticides in the field.