Oilseed rape is a major crop throughout Europe planted on several million hectares. Among a number of coleopteran pest species attacking oilseed rape, pollen beetle, Meligethes aeneus F. is of particular importance. Since decades this pest is kept under economic damage thresholds especially by foliar treatments with pyrethroid insecticides. Due to continuous selection pressure first cases of pyrethroid resistance were reported in France in 1999, and during the last decade yield losses due to pyrethroid control failures were known from many European countries. Pyrethroid resistance in pollen beetle has recently been linked to elevated expression of CYP6BQ23, a cytochrome P450 involved in pyrethroid detoxification. Additionally knock-down resistance (kdr) due to an L1014F mutation in voltage-gated sodium channels was described, particularly in Scandinavian populations. Although alternative insecticides with different modes of action were recently introduced for pollen beetle control, pyrethroid selection pressure remains high. The recent emergence of kdr in cabbage stem flea beetle, Psylliodes chrysocephala, and reports on decreased susceptibility of the cabbage seed weevil, Ceutorhynchus assimilis, highlights the importance to implement a more holistic insecticide resistance management approach based on mode of action rotation in European oilseed rape to safeguard the future of the crop.

Pyrethroid resistance in coleopteran pests of oilseed rape: Failure and success

248th National Meeting (2014)

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