Genetic basis of resistance and studies on cross-resistance in a population of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera : Plutellidae)

The genetic basis of abamectin resistance was studied in a strain of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L), following laboratory selection of a field population collected at Xuanhua, Hebei Province, China. Data from the testing of F-1 progeny from reciprocal crosses between abamectin-resistant and abamectin-susceptible strains indicated that resistance might be autosomal and incompletely recessive with a degree of dominance of -0.13. Chi-squared analyses from the response of a backcross of crossed F-1 progeny and the resistant strain and F-2 progeny were highly significant, suggesting that the resistance was probably controlled by more than one gene. The results of cross-resistance studies showed that there was little cross-resistance between abamectin and four pyrethroid insecticides (deltamethrin, beta-cypermethrin, fenvalerate and bifenthrin) and no cross-resistance between abamectin and the acylureas chlorfluazuron or flufenoxuron. (C) 2003 Society of Chemical Industry.