Esterase isoenzymes and insecticide resistance in Frankliniella occidentalis populations from the south-east region of Spain

BACKGROUND: Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) is among the most important crop pests in the south‐east region of Spain; its increasing resistance to insecticides constitutes a serious problem, and understanding the mechanisms involved is therefore of great interest. To this end, F. occidentalis populations, collected from the field at different locations in south‐east Spain, were studied in terms of total esterase activity and esterase isoenzyme pattern. RESULTS: Individual thrips extracts were analysed by native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and stained for esterase activity with the model substrate α‐naphthyl acetate. Significant correlations were found between resistance to the insecticides acrinathrin and methiocarb and the presence of a group of three intensely stained bands, named Triplet A. For each individual thrips extract, total esterase activity towards the substrates α‐naphthyl acetate and α‐naphthyl butyrate was also measured in a microplate reader. Insects possessing Triplet A showed a significantly higher α‐naphthyl acetate specific activity and α‐naphthyl acetate/α‐naphthyl butyrate activity ratio. This observation allowed a reliable classification of susceptible or resistant insects either by PAGE analysis or by total esterase activity determination. CONCLUSION: The PAGE and microplate assays described can be used as a monitoring technique for detecting acrinathrin‐ and methiocarb‐resistant individuals among F. occidentalis field populations. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry