Pest Management Science最新文献

Background: Emerging as transformative agricultural nanotechnologies, nanopesticides have brought unique opportunities for optimal pesticide efficacy because of their inherent properties. However, existing nanopesticides are often plagued by costly and toxic carrier materials, as well as limitations in preparation techniques.

Results: Here, we report a facile and scalable flash nanoprecipitation (FNP) approach, based on molecular co-assembly engineering of natural tea saponin (TS) and tannic acid (TA), to synthesize abamectin (Abm) nanopesticides (Abm@TS/TA nanopesticides). The developed FNP approach circumvented the limitations of batch processing by enabling controllable and continuous production of Abm@TS/TA nanopesticides with a total flow rate of 8640 mL h^-1. More importantly, co-assembly of natural carriers with Abm has been harnessed to achieve synergistic nanopesticides of uniform spherical structure, excellent stability, favorable sustained-release properties, and comparable biological efficacy against Tetranychus urticae. Moreover, the synergistic interfacial properties of the engineered nanopesticides demonstrate improved leaf affinity and retention on plant surfaces compared with conventional formulations.

Conclusion: This work establishes an expandable and efficacious approach for deploying eco-friendly nanopesticide systems for sustainable agricultural applications. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: The turnip aphid Lipaphis erysimi is a cruciferous crop pest with the potential to reduce yields by up to 90%. Treatment of L. erysimi infestations using insecticides has resulted in numerous cases of resistance in field populations yet genomic resources are lacking for this species, limiting the ability of researchers to investigate the molecular basis of resistance and develop management strategies.

Results: Here we describe the creation of a chromosome scale genome assembly for L. erysimi and the characterization of fenpropathrin resistance in this species using multi-omics analysis. A 409 Mb genome was assembled for L. erysimi, with an N50 of 95.2 Mb and 90% of assembled content contained within four chromosome-scale scaffolds. We identified a key M903L mutation in a voltage-gated sodium channel gene that is targeted by fenpropathrin and the accompanying up-regulation of cytochrome P450 and UDP-glycosyltransferase detoxification genes. Using transgenic flies, we further confirmed the ability of L. erysimi CYP4CJ1 to confer fenpropathrin resistance in vivo.

Conclusion: Mechanisms for fenpropathrin resistance in L. erysimi were identified through multi-omics analysis and functional characterization. Collectively, this study provides valuable genomic resources for molecular investigations of L. erysimi and establishes a foundation for developing novel strategies to enhance pyrethroid efficacy in this species. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: The legume pod borer Maruca vitrata severely damages pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) production, yet genetic resistance remains poorly understood. Improving knowledge of insect-plant interactions is essential for developing resistant genotypes and sustainable management strategies. This study evaluated improved genotypes, landraces, and crop wild relatives (CWRs) of pigeonpea for resistance to M. vitrata under field and laboratory conditions.

Results: Across evaluations, ICP 9273 and ICPHaRL 4985-11 showed the lowest larval incidence, while several CWRs remained uninfested. Antibiosis assays revealed minimal pod damage in Cajanus scarabaeoides (ICP 15716), Rhynchosia suaveolens (ICP 15867), and C. platycarpus (ICP 15669). Antixenosis tests identified Gudalore as highly oviposition-preferred and ICPHaRL 4985-11 as least preferred; free-choice assays confirmed Edapadi as most susceptible and ICP 9273 as least attractive. CWRs ICP 15669, ICP 15712, and ICP 15716 were consistently less attractive than the susceptible check ICPL 87. Untargeted gas chromatography-mass spectrometry profiling detected general attractants (decanol, 1-octanol, dodecane) and sesquiterpenes (β-caryophyllene, caryophyllene oxide, farnesene, linalool), with unique enrichment of these compounds in R. suaveolens. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations showed strong binding of β-caryophyllene and farnesene to M. vitrata general odorant-binding protein 2, suggesting a role in host recognition. Behavioral assays demonstrated that β-caryophyllene acts as a female repellent and a male attractant at 100 000 ng μL^-1 concentrations.

Conclusion: This integrative study identifies novel resistance traits in pigeonpea and CWRs and highlights the value of combining volatilomics, molecular modeling, and behavioral assays to elucidate host selection mechanisms, supporting the development of M. vitrata-resistant cultivars and sustainable pest management. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: The growing emergence of triazole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus poses a critical threat to treatment efficacy, particularly among immunocompromised populations. Agricultural triazole fungicides are increasingly recognized as key environmental drivers of resistance, yet the link between non-azole fungicides and the development of resistant A. fumigatus strains remains poorly understood. Therefore, we investigated the possibility of evolving triazole resistance in A. fumigatus exposed to copper hydroxide, given its widespread application and high environmental persistence.

Results: The results demonstrated that copper hydroxide can induce triazole resistance in A. fumigatus in both liquid media and soil environments. Notably, higher copper hydroxide concentrations and prolonged exposure induced more resistant strains with minimum inhibitory concentration of ≥16 mg L^-1 for itraconazole, indicating that resistance level depends on exposure concentration and duration. Eight strains maintained stable resistance mediated by coordinately upregulating the expression of target genes (CYP51A) and efflux pump genes (ATRF, AFUMDR1 and AFUMDR4).

Conclusion: These findings demonstrated stable triazole resistance in A. fumigatus associated with agricultural copper hydroxide exposure. Copper-based fungicide should be applied strictly at dosage recommended by good agricultural practices and alternated with fungicides of different modes-of-action to mitigate resistance risk. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: In Canada, the orange wheat blossom midge (hereafter called wheat midge), Sitodiplosis mosellana (Géhin) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), causes millions of dollars of damage to wheat crops every year. Host plant nutrition directly or indirectly influences insect oviposition owing to their higher food quality. We tested the effect of fertilizer rates (0.5, 1.5, 2.5 g per pot) on plant growth parameters, tissue nitrogen (N) content, protein content, wheat midge oviposition, and larval performance using a susceptible wheat cultivar, 'Roblin'. We also examined the volatile organic compound (VOC) profile in plants grown under different fertilization regimes using thermal desorption comprehensive 2D gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TD-GC × GC-TOFMS) to test whether VOCs are influenced by plant fertilization.

Results: Higher fertilization rates increased plant fresh weight and number of spikes per plant. However, the highest percentage of nitrogen and protein content were observed in the moderate fertilization treatment, followed by the high and low treatments. Wheat midge laid proportionally more eggs in the moderate than in the high fertilization treatments, with intermediate numbers of eggs observed in the low fertilization treatment, in choice oviposition tests. Fertilizer treatments did not affect the total number of wheat midge eggs and larvae, and the average larval weight in no-choice tests. The VOC profile of plants in the moderate and high fertilization treatments differed from that of the low fertilization treatment.

Conclusions: Plant fertilization increases plant growth, nitrogen, and protein levels, alters the VOC profile, and affects female wheat midge oviposition preference. Increased egg-laying may be affected by the observed changes in the VOC profile, which warrants further investigation comparing the effects of fertilization on the VOC profiles of susceptible and oviposition-deterrent wheat varieties. Under no-choice conditions we did not detect fertilization effects on wheat midge oviposition or early development, but future studies should focus on potential effects on adults and their reproduction. These findings provide a deeper understanding of how plant nutrients influence wheat midge-host plant interactions. © 2026 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: The short shelf life and storage sensitivity of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) limit their large-scale application as biological control agents and risk the loss of valuable germplasm resources. Cryopreservation offers a potential solution; however, its efficiency is often limited by cryoinjury, resulting in low post-thaw survival rates and reduced infectivity. Current protocols are suboptimal and rarely consider the synergistic effects among cryoprotectants.

Results: We tested three polyols (ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and glycerol) for the cryoprotection of Steinernema carpocapsae at different concentrations and incubation times. Glycerol exerted the strongest cryoprotective effect, followed by ethylene glycol, while propylene glycol yielded the lowest survival rate. Two-step ethylene glycol pretreatment yielded 15.8 ± 1.5% post-thaw survival, which was higher than trehalose alone but remained far below the best-performing ethylene glycol-trehalose formulation. Trehalose supplementation significantly enhanced survival, particularly in the ethylene glycol-treated group. Orthogonal tests identified two optimal cryopreservation formulations for EPNs: 26% glycerol with 7% trehalose and 108 h of incubation, and 22% ethylene glycol with 2.5% trehalose and 105 min of incubation. Both formulations were also effective in cryopreserving root-knot nematodes, with comparable post-thaw survival of approximately 30%, approximately 1.6-fold higher than that in the untreated control. Virulence assays confirmed that cryopreserved EPNs retained infectivity without significant losses.

Conclusion: Our optimized polyol-trehalose formulation ensured high viability and pathogenicity of cryopreserved EPNs, thereby facilitating germplasm management and improving the practicality of EPN-based biocontrol applications. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) are globally invasive agricultural pests that currently lack effective control measures. Cys2/His2-type zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) are ubiquitous transcription factors that play critical roles in regulating plant resistance to various stresses. However, it remains unclear whether these proteins modulate plant defense responses during whitefly infestation. This study investigates the function and mechanisms of the Cys2/His2-type zinc finger transcription factor CsZAT10 in regulating cucumber resistance to B. tabaci.

Results: CsZAT10 contains two zinc finger domains, classifying it as a Cys2/His2-type ZFP. Furthermore, the expression of CsZAT10 was significantly induced by infestation with B. tabaci and by defense-related signaling molecules such as salicylic acid, methyl jasmonate, and hydrogen peroxide. Silencing CsZAT10 significantly increased the survival rates and host preference of B. tabaci, while overexpression of CsZAT10 reduced these metrics. Further studies revealed that silencing CsZAT10 suppressed plant defense systems, as evidenced by decreased levels of these defense signaling molecules, downregulation of defense-related genes, reduced activity of defense enzymes (including superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and phenylalanine ammonia lyase), and lower amounts of resistance-related compounds (such as phenols, tannins, and flavonoids). Conversely, CsZAT10 overexpression activated these defense responses.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that CsZAT10 positively regulates Cucumis sativus resistance to B. tabaci by activating plant defense signaling pathways associated with reactive oxygen species, salicylic acid, and jasmonic acid pathways. Our results identify a novel molecular target for breeding plants resistant to whiteflies. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Myzus persicae (Sulzer), is a major global pest whose control is challenged by widespread insecticide resistance. This study assessed the resistance status of M. persicae populations collected in Greece (2021-2025), using diagnostic bioassays with insecticides (acetamiprid, flupyradifurone, flonicamid, sulfoxaflor and FliPPER) and a newly developed, highly sensitive droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) panel targeting seven key resistance mutations (vgsc: super-kdr M918T/L and kdr L1014F - pyrethroid resistance; acetyl-CoA carboxylase: A2666V - keto-enol resistance; AChE: MACE S431F - dimethyl carbamates resistance; nAChR: R81T and T74I linked to CYP6CY3 overexpression - resistance to nAChR competitive modulators).

Results: Bioassays revealed frequent cross-resistance cases. Notably, we report the first case of resistance to flonicamid. FliPPER (fatty acids potassium salts) showed the highest resistance frequency (50.0%) and sulfoxaflor the lowest (1.7%). The ddPCR analysis (on 634 aphids) confirmed the presence of six resistance mutations. The mutation T74I was almost fixed across all populations (mean resistant allele frequency of 99.9%). Other key mutations (MACE, kdr/super-kdr and R81T) were present at moderate-to-high frequencies, with the M918L super-kdr variant showing a notable increase.

Conclusions: Myzus persicae in Greece exhibits a high level of genetic variability, leading to severe and dynamic resistance problems. The widespread metabolic resistance (CYP6CY3 overexpression) which has been found to compromise neonicotinoids and fluryradifurone and the emergence of flonicamid resistance complicate the implementation of integrated pest management. The ddPCR panel provides a valid, evidence-based tool for large-scale monitoring of resistance and decision-making, essential for managing this difficult to control pest. However, bioassays are also useful when molecular markers are not available. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Conventional pesticide formulations often suffer from limitations such as large particle sizes, poor adhesion, and susceptibility to environmental losses through volatilization and drift, leading to low utilization efficiency and potential ecological risks.

Results: To address these challenges, we developed a novel composite hydrogel system (AZO@βASCa) through the integration of alkali lignin (AL), sodium alginate (SA), and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) via physical cross-linking and ion gelation. This system is designed for the efficient encapsulation and environmentally responsive release of the fungicide azoxystrobin (AZO). By systematically optimizing the mass ratio of SA to AL, we identified a 2:1 ratio as optimal, yielding a hydrogel with a uniform porous network structure, an impressive encapsulation efficiency of 94.99%, and a loading capacity of 24.75%. The AZO@βASCa hydrogel exhibited notable temperature-responsive release behavior and significantly enhanced photostability. Adhesion assessments revealed superior wetting and adhesion performance on both osmanthus and poplar leaves, characterized by lower contact angles, higher adhesion work, and resistance to runoff even at vertical inclination. In vitro and in vivo antifungal studies demonstrated that AZO@βASCa provided sustained inhibition of Botrytis cinerea, outperforming commercial AZO in long-term efficacy. Importantly, acute toxicity assays in zebrafish indicated that AZO@βASCa reduced toxicity by 4.77-fold compared to its commercial counterpart.

Conclusions: This study successfully developed a highly efficient, low-toxicity, and environmentally friendly nanopesticide delivery system. This approach provides a viable material strategy and technical pathway for achieving pesticide reduction while enhancing efficacy, thereby advancing green and sustainable agriculture. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.