THE COMPARISON OF IEF AND ELISA FOR THE DETECTION OF INSECTICIDE RESISTANCE IN FIELD POPULATIONS OF THE PEACH-POTATO APHID MYZUS PERSICAE IN NORTHERN ENGLAND

摘要

Insecticide resistance in the peach-potato aphid Myzus persicae is potentially an important problem within the United Kingdom because of the major status of this aphid as a virus vector. Populations with moderate resistance to insecticides already occur frequently in England and the situation requires continual monitoring to ensure appropriate spraying procedures. Resistance in M. persicae is associated with a particular isozyme of carboxylesterase, designated E4 following polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). A simple colorimetric assay for esterase activity in a squashed aphid proved too subjective for routine use in monitoring resistance and was not quantitative. A spectrophotometric assay was also limited by a failure to discriminate slightly resistant from susceptible forms because of the activity of other non-specific esterses. We have overcome these limitations by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and iso-electric focusing (IEF) to determine the prevalence of resistance in populations of M. persicae within Northern England.