Pest Management Science (2009) 65, 939-942

Murad Ghanim and Svetlana Kontsedalov (2009)
Susceptibility to insecticides in the Q biotype of Bemisia tabaci is correlated with bacterial symbiont densities
Pest Management Science 65 (9), 939-942
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The presence of symbiotic microorganisms may influence an insect's ability to tolerate natural and artificial stress agents such as insecticides. The authors have previously shown that Rickettsia in the B biotype of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) increases this insect's susceptibility to several insecticidal compounds. This communication reports a comparison of the susceptibilities of three isofemale strains of the Q biotype of B. tabaci harbouring different bacterial complements to major insecticides from different chemical groups: one strain harboured only Arsenophonus, one harboured Rickettsia and Arsenophonus and one harboured Arsenophonus and Wolbachia.
RESULTS: The presence of different symbiont combinations in the three strains had a significant influence on their susceptibility to most of the insecticides tested. Thiamethoxam, imidacloprid, pyriproxyfen and spiromesifen had a significant influence on strains that had the double infections Rickettsia-Arsenophonus and Wolbachia-Arsenophonus, which also carried higher amounts of symbionts as assessed by quantitative real-time PCR. No significant differences in mortality rates were observed when the tested strains were treated with diafenthiuron.
CONCLUSION: The results suggest a correlation between the presence of high bacterial densities in B. tabaci and the insect's ability to detoxify toxic compounds such as insecticides.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Murad Ghanim

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
pesticide resistance of pest
control - general

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Bemisia tabaci biotype MED