Biochemistry and molecular characterization of resistance of Phytoseiulus macropilis (Banks) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to pyrethroid, release in the field and monitoring of predators with molecular markers

• Grant number: 15/26288-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): November 01, 2016
• Effective date (End): March 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Mário Eidi Sato
• Grantee: Maria Cristina Vitelli Queiroz
• Host Institution: Instituto Biológico (IB). Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 19/04387-3 - Characterization of Predatory Mite Populations of Phytoseiidae Family Using Molecular Tools, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

One of the factors that hinder the production and marketing of various agricultural crops of economic importance in Brazil is the attack of insect and mite pests. The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), considered one of the mite pests of greatest economic importance worldwide, causes serious damage in several crops, including cotton, strawberry, papaya, kidney beans, tomatoes, roses and chrysanthemum. In recent years, the problems caused by the spider mite have worsened due to the inappropriate use of pesticides and the selection of resistant populations to the main acaricides registered in Brazil. The use of predaceous mites to control the spider mite is one of the most promising strategies for the pest control in commercial production systems for fruits, vegetables and ornamentals; however, the application of chemicals (e.g. insecticides) in these crops can dramatically affect the population of these predators. The use of predaceous mite strains resistant to compounds of broad spectrum of action (e.g. pyrethroids) can enable the use of these natural enemies for the biological control of the spider mite, in crops where the farmer realizes any application of pesticides against other arthropod pests (e.g. caterpillars, thrips, mealybugs, whiteflies). The objective of this research is to characterize the pyrethroid resistance mechanisms in the predaceous mite Phytoseiulus macropilis (Banks) (Acari: Phytoseiidae), as well as evaluating some behavioral aspects of the phytoseiid resistant strain under field conditions. The proposed research includes the identification of genes and enzymes involved in the detoxification process of pyrethroids (fenpropathrin) and / or target-site (sodium channel) insensitivity in the phytoseiid mite. Transcriptome analysis will be performed to search for genes related to resistance mechanisms and determination of the differential expression of genes associated with resistance to pyrethroids, in S and R strains of P. macropilis. In this survey, it will be used a strain of the predaceous mite selected for resistance to the pyrethroid fenpropathrin with a resistance ratio higher than 5,000 times. In addition, a study of monitoring of resistant P. macropilis mites, released in three types of crops (strawberry, chayote, raspberry), will be carried out to observe the establishment and dispersion of the mites in the field, through the use of molecular markers. The conduction of the proposed research may represent a breakthrough in knowledge about resistance to pesticides in predaceous mites of the family Phytoseiidae, generating highly relevant information to the establishment of strategies for management the spider mite in different agro-ecosystems. This research will be conducted in partnership with researchers from CBMEG (Unicamp) and CBGP / INRA (France). (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

QUEIROZ, MARIA CRISTINA VITELLI; DE OLIVEIRA, FERNANDA ANCELMO; DE SOUZA, ANETE PEREIRA; SATO, MARIO EIDI. Development of microsatellite markers for the predatory mite Phytoseiulus macropilis and cross-amplification in three other species of phytoseiid mites. Experimental and Applied Acarology, v. 83, n. 1, NOV 2020. (16/06919-4, 18/18527-9, 17/50334-3, 15/26288-6)