Guedes_1998_Pest.Sci_53_15

Malathion resistance of a field-collected population of Rhizopertha dominica (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) from Mexico was evaluated and the resistance mechanisms were characterized both in vivo and in vitro. The Mexican population showed a resistance level of 50-fold at LC50 as compared with that of a susceptible laboratory population. Malathion bioassays with the synergists triphenyl phosphate, piperonyl butoxide and diethyl maleate suggested that esterases were likely to contribute to the resistance whereas cytochrome P450 monooxygenases and glutathione S-transferases were not. In-vitro assays of esterases indicated that the general esterase activity was 1.3-fold higher in the Mexican population than in the susceptible population. However, the phosphotriesterase activity in the resistant population was 3.7-fold higher than in the susceptible population. Significantly higher phosphotriesterase activity in the resistant population was further indicated by 3.4-fold increase of Vmax in enzyme kinetics and higher frequency of individuals with high phosphotriesterase activity in this population. All these findings suggested that phosphotriesterases play a role in malathion resistance in the Mexican population of lesser grain borer.