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Background: Tetranychus urticae is a notorious crop pest with a worldwide distribution that has developed resistance to a wide range of acaricides. Here, we investigated the resistance levels of a T. urticae population collected from an ornamental greenhouse in Peloponnese, Greece, and analyzed its resistance mechanisms at the molecular level., Results: Toxicological assays showed resistance against compounds with different modes of action, with resistance ratios of: 89-fold for abamectin; > 1000-fold for clofentezine; > 5000-fold for etoxazole; 27-fold for fenpyroximate and pyridaben; 20- and 36-fold for spirodiclofen and spirotetramat, respectively; and 116- and > 500-fold for cyenopyrafen and cyflumetofen, respectively. Bioassays with synergists indicated the involvement of detoxification enzymes in resistance to abamectin, but not to cyflumetofen and spirodiclofen. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis showed significant over-expression of several genes encoding detoxification enzymes such as cytochrome P450 monooxygenases and UDP-glycosyltransferases, which have been previously associated with acaricide resistance. Known target-site resistance mutations were identified in acetyl-choline esterase, chitin synthase 1 and NDUFS7/psst, but putative novel resistance mutations were also discovered in targets such as glutamate-gated chloride channel subunit 3. Interestingly, target-site resistance mutations against pyrethroids or bifenazate were not identified, possibly indicating a recent reduced selection pressure in Greece, as well as a possible opportunity to rotate these chemistries., Conclusion: We identified and characterized a striking case of multiple acaricide resistance in a field population of T. urticae. Exceptionally strong resistance phenotypes, with accumulation of multiple resistance mutations and over-expression of P450s and other detoxification genes in the same field population are reported., (© 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Background: The poultry red mite (PRM) Dermanyssus gallinae is the most common ectoparasite on poultry and causes high economic losses in poultry farming worldwide. Pyrethroid acaricides have been widely used for its control and, consequently, pyrethroid resistance has arisen. In this study we aim to investigate the occurrence of resistance and study the geographical distribution of pyrethroid resistance mutations across PRM populations in Europe., Results: Full dose-response contact bioassays revealed very high levels of resistance against several pyrethroids (α-cypermethrin, fluvalinate, and cyfluthrin) in two PRM populations from Greece, compared to a susceptible reference strain. Resistance was associated with mutations in the gene encoding the target site of pyrethroids, the voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC). Mutations, M918L and L925V in domain IIS4-S5 and F1534L in domain IIIS6, were found at positions known to play a role in pyrethroid resistance in other arthropod species. Subsequent screening by sequencing VGSC gene fragments IIS4-S5 and IIIS6 revealed the presence and distribution of these mutations in many European populations. In some populations, we identified additional or different mutations including M918V/T, L925M, T929I, I936F, and F1538L. The latter mutation is a possible alternative for F1538I that has been previously associated with pyrethroid resistance in other Acari species., Conclusion: We report very high levels of pyrethroid resistance in PRM populations from Greece, as well as the identification and geographical distribution of 10 pyrethroid resistance mutations in PRM populations across Europe. Our results draw attention to the need for an evidence-based implementation of PRM control, taking acaricide resistance management into consideration. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.)