Detoxifying Enzymatic Activity and Insecticide-Resistance Gene Expression in Field Populations of Pink Bollworm (Pectinophora Gossypiella (Saund.))

Abstract

: Study was conducted to assess two enzyme detoxifying activities and insecticide-resistance gene expression quantitation using real-time (PCR). Four populations of pink bollworm were compared with baseline laboratory strain. Field populations showed higher levels of enzymatic activity, glutathione-S-transferase and β–esterases, than those of the laboratory strain. The amplification curves scored a cycle threshold ( Ct ) value of 25 for the ribosomal protein subunit7 ( rps 7). For the BtR gene, the Ct values of analyzed biological groups ranged from 20 for laboratory strain to 24 for Fayoum group. For Cad1 , the Ct values ranged from 19 for laboratory strain to 23 for Fayoum and Qalubia populations. Therefore, the present work intro-duces a method for the challenge of monitoring resistance to Bt toxins in crops which require, according to IPM (Integrated pest management) pro-gram,