Detection of the S431F mutation associated with resistance to organophosphate/carbamate insecticides in Myzus persicae (Sulzer, 1776) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) distributed in Türkiye

Abstract

The green peach aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer, 1776) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is a globally significant agricultural pest responsible for extensive crop damage through direct feeding and virus transmission. Long-term exposure to organophosphate (OP) and carbamate (CB) insecticides has led to the evolution of resistance mechanisms, particularly mutations in the acetylcholinesterase gene (ace-2). Among these, the S431F substitution, known as the Modified Acetylcholinesterase (MACE) mutation, confers reduced sensitivity to dimethylcarbamate insecticides, such as pirimicarb. This study, conducted between April 2024 and July 2025, aimed to detect and quantify the frequency of the S431F mutation in M. persicae populations collected from nine major peach-growing provinces of Türkiye using the PCR-RFLP technique. A total of 360 individuals were genotyped, revealing 15 homozygous resistant (RR), 131 heterozygous resistant (RS), and 214 homozygous susceptible (SS) individuals. The overall resistant allele frequency was 22.36%, with the highest rates observed in Niğde (17%), İzmir (15%), and Aydın (5%). Regionally, the Mediterranean, Aegean, and Marmara Regions exhibited similar resistance frequencies (22.8%, 22.5%, and 21.3%, respectively). These results indicate that resistance to OP/CB insecticides may be in its early stage of development, or that previously high resistance levels may have decreased. Continued molecular surveillance and region-specific IPM programs should be applied to delay the spread of resistance.

Keywords

• ace-2
• chemical control
• insecticide resistance
• Myzus persicae
• PCR-RFLP

Project Number

FMT 2024/2-BAGEP

Thanks

This study was financially supported by the Coordination Unit for Scientific Research Projects of Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, grant number FMT2024/2-BAGEP.

Türkiye'de yayılış gösteren Myzus persicae (Sulzer, 1776) (Hemiptera: Aphididae)’nin organofosfat/karbamat insektisitlere dirençle ilişkili S431F mutasyonunun tespiti

Abstract

Öz Yeşil şeftali yaprak biti Myzus persicae (Sulzer, 1776) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), doğrudan beslenme ve virüs taşıma yoluyla geniş ölçekli mahsul hasarına neden olan, küresel öneme sahip bir tarım zararlısıdır. Organofosfat (OP) ve karbamat (CB) böcek ilaçlarına uzun süre maruz kalmak, direnç mekanizmalarının, özellikle de asetilkolinesteraz geninde (ace-2) mutasyonların ortaya çıkmasına neden olmaktadır. Bunlar arasında, Modifiye Asetilkolinesteraz (MACE) mutasyonu olarak bilinen S431F mutasyonu, pirimikarb gibi dimetilkarbamat insektisitlere karşı duyarlılığı azaltır. Bu çalışma Nisan 2024 ile Temmuz 2025 ayları arasında, PCR-RFLP tekniği kullanılarak Türkiye'nin dokuz önemli şeftali üreticisi illerinden toplanan M. persicae popülasyonlarında S431F mutasyonunun sıklığını tespit etmek ve ölçmek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Toplam 360 bireyin genotipi belirlenmiş ve 15 homozigot dirençli (RR), 131 heterozigot dirençli (RS) ve 214 homozigot duyarlı (SS) birey tespit edilmiştir. Toplam dirençli alel sıklığı %22,36 olup, en yüksek oranlar Niğde (%17), İzmir (%15) ve Aydın (%5) illerinde gözlemlenmiştir. Bölgesel olarak, Akdeniz, Ege ve Marmara bölgeleri benzer direnç sıklıkları göstermiştir (sırasıyla %22,8, %22,5 ve %21,3). Bu sonuçlar, OP/CB insektisitlere direncin, gelişimin erken aşamasında olabileceğini veya daha önce yüksek olan direnç seviyelerinin azalmış olabileceğini göstermektedir. Dirençliliğin yayılmasını geciktirmek için moleküler takip ve bölgeye özgü IPM programları uygulamaya devam edilmelidir.

Keywords

• ace-2
• kimyasal kontrol
• insektisit direnci
• Myzus persicae
• PCR-RFLP

Supporting Institution

Coordination Unit for Scientific Research Projects of Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University

Project Number

FMT 2024/2-BAGEP

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