Abstract

Buprofezin is a chitin synthesis inhibitor that is very effective against Homopteran pests, such as the white-backed planthopper (WBPH), S. furcifera (Horvath). In the present study, resistance selection, cross-resistance and mechanisms of buprofezin resistance were investigated in this planthopper species. However, the mechanism associated with resistance to growth regulator insecticides (IGRs) remains largely unknown. A resistant strain (Bup-R) with a resistance level (22-fold) to buprofezin was developed through continuous selection for 47 generations from a laboratory susceptible strain (Bup-S). The results showed that the Bup-R exhibited no cross-resistance to other tested insecticides. Synergism tests showed that piperonyl butoxide (PBO) (SR = 3.9-fold) and diethyl maleate (DEM) (SR = 1.8-fold) had synergistic effects on buprofezin toxicity in the resistant strain (F 47 ). Enzyme activity results revealed an approximate 5.7-fold difference in cytochrome P450 monooxygenase and a 2-fold difference in glutathione S-transferase (GST) between the resistant and susceptible strains, suggesting that the increased activity of these two enzymes is likely the main detoxification mechanism involved in resistance to buprofezin in this species. Furthermore, the mRNA expression levels of cytochrome P450 (CYP) and GST genes by quantitative real-time PCR results indicated that sixteen P450 and one GST gene were significantly overexpressed in the Bup-R strain, among which thirteen P450 genes and one GST gene were >2-fold higher than in the Bup-S strain. The present study increases our knowledge of the buprofezin resistance mechanism in S. furcifera and provides a useful reference for integrated pest management (IPM) strategies.