The tobacco-adapted form of the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), is one of the most important insect pests of tobacco in the United States and around the world. Insecticides play a major role in controlling the aphid on tobacco because natural enemies usually fail to maintain its populations below damaging levels. The aphid has a history of developing resistance to many insecticides. Therefore, baseline information on the aphid's susceptibility to imidacloprid and other insecticides is critical for developing future resistant management programs to minimize losses attributed to the aphid. Studies were conducted on colonies of the tobacco-adapted form of the green peach aphid collected from nine states in the eastern United States in 2004-2007. The susceptibility of 151 colonies to imidacloprid was determined in serial leaf-dip bioassays. When combined over the four years, 18, 14, and 4% of the colonies had 10- to 20-fold, 20- to 30-fold, and 30- to 90-fold resistance ratios, respectively, suggesting that high levels of resistance to imidacloprid are present in field populations of the aphid. A colony collected near Clayton, NC had the highest LC50 value (31 ppm) combined over six tests and three years, but the average resistance ratios for the first three runs was over 130-fold (48 ppm). Geographic location had little effect on susceptibility to imidacloprid. Aphid colonies (136) including red, green, and orange color morphs were screened for total esterase activity using microplate assay with 1-Naphthyl acetate as the substrate. The green morphs generally had lower esterase levels than the red and orange morphs. All orange morphs had among the highest esterase activities. Esterase activities of red and green morphs were positively correlated with LC50 values as determined by leaf-dip bioassays for acephate and methomyl. All 25 colonies tested for esterase gene amplification had either E4 or FE4 gene amplification. The amplification of both E4 and FE4 seen as an 865-bp band characteristic of the FE4 gene and an additional 381-bp band characteristic of a deleted upstream region of the E4 gene occurred in all (4) orange morphs and one (1 of 9) green morph. Target-site insensitivity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), as modified AChE resistance (MACE) was assessed in 65 colonies of field-collected tobacco-adapted forms of M. persicae. Eight colonies over a range of AChE activity were selected to study inhibition of AChE in the presence of two carbamate insecticides, methomyl and pirimicarb. IC50 values for methomyl ranged from 0.35 to 2.4 μM while six of eight colonies had lower values with a range of 0.16 to 0.30 μM for pirimicarb. Two colonies that were inhibited by methomyl had very high IC50 values of 40.4 and 98.6 μM for pirimicarb. Such insensitivity may be due to mutations in the ace2 gene, but this needs to be confirmed by genetic and molecular analysis. Glutathione S- transferases (GSTs), isoenzymes that are involved in the metabolism and detoxification of many xenobiotic compounds were quantified for 100 colonies by CDNB conjugation. There was a wide range of GST activity for the red (8 to 343 pmol/min/mg protein) and green (15.3 to 330 pmol/min mg protein) morphs, but all six orange morphs collected in 2007 had a narrower range (160 to 211 pmol/min/mg protein). About 45% of the red morphs had GST activity from 200-300 pmol/min/mg of protein, while 53% of the green morphs had a range of 100-200 pmol/min/mg protein. The influence of temperature-mediated synergisms on the toxicity of insecticides in red and green color morphs of the tobacco-adapted from of M. persicae were evaluated using leaf-dip bioassay procedures in laboratory incubators. Post-exposure temperatures of 15, 20, and 25°C were evaluated for four classes of insecticides, acephate, imidacloprid, lambda-cyhalothrin, and methomyl. The temperature change from 15 to 20°C caused almost a 3-fold increase in toxicity to the red and green color morphs for methomyl, acephate, and imidacloprid. In contrast, the toxicity of lambda-cyhalothrin decreased as the temperature increased, showing a negative temperature coefficient. Bioassay experiments conducted with the red morph for indirect estimates of imidacloprid concentrations in flue-cured tobacco showed that leaf position, imidacloprid rate and time after application affected the concentration of the toxicant in the leaf. The differences in aphid mortality between the lower and upper leaf positions indicate that the concentration of imidacloprid and its metabolites were unevenly distributed with the lowest mortality for aphids feeding on the younger, upper leaves and the highest for those feeding on the older, lower leaves. In field experiments, higher aphid populations occurred on tobacco treated with imidacloprid less than the field recommended rate of 41.4 ml/1,000 plants. The development of aphid populations in the field was consistent with the laboratory bioassays. Field trials were conducted to evaluate the performance of various insecticides currently registered for aphid control on tobacco. Imidacloprid applied as a tray drench treatment and acephate as foliar sprays were the most effective treatments. Moderate declines in control with imidacloprid were observed at 75-87 d after transplanting in 2006 and 2007. Aldicarb gave good to excellent control in one of three years, but only fair to poor control in the other two years. Methomyl and lambda-cyhalothrin gave good control in all three years except the residual was shorter. The poor performance of aldicarb in the two years may have been related to the presence of E4 or FE4 resistance in the naturally occurring TGPA in the experimental plots. / Ph. D.

The inheritance of resistance to chlordane in the German cockroach, Blattell germanica. (L.), was studied by determining the toxicity of chlordane to the following strains of roaches: a) chlordane-resistant and non-resistant strains, b)F₁ and F₂ progeny of reciprocal crosses between two parental strains, c) progeny of pair matings within resistant and non-resistant strains, and from a cross between resistant females and non-resistant males. / Ph. D.

German cockroach, Blattella germanica L., females of resistant and non-resistant strains carrying oothecae were exposed to filter paper impregnated with propoxur, malathion, and diazinon. Premature oothecal drop was monitored during the exposure period and for 24 hours thereafter. Determinations of female mortality were also made 72 h post-exposure. Oothecae from exposed females were observed for percentage egg hatch, time from exposure to hatch, percentage nymphal emergence, nymphal survival, and the percentage of nymphs able to move about freely 24 hours post-emergence. The comparisons of these factors were made not only on prematurely dropped oothecae but also on oothecae retained by females, and oothecae that were manually detached from females. Premature oothecae dropped and those manually detached were hatched on an insecticide treated surface. Premature oothecal drop occurred in all experiments, but was delayed 24 h in experiments with organophosphates. The mortality of treated females which prematurely dropped their oothecae was higher than females retaining them (73% vs. 53%). Percentage nymphal emergence and survival were reduced when oothecae were placed on an insecticide treated surface. The significantly higher survival of resistant strain nymphs (Carver, 60%, and Lynn Haven, 99%) in a comparison to nymphs of a susceptible strain (VPI, 45%) on insecticide treated surfaces provides evidence for resistance in first instar nymphs. A procedure for the quantitative comparison of the effects of different insecticides on oothecal-bearing females has been developed. Insecticides which cause a higher percentage of premature oothecal drop may reduce regrowth of a cockroach population when compared to materials which do not, even if the insecticides cause similar mortality. The extent to which population regrowth occurs depends on whether oothecae hatch on a treated surface, oothecal age, and environmental conditions. / Master of Science

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Colonies of Planococcus ficus (Signoret) were reared from three different areas, Hex River Valley, Robertson and Stellenbosch. An insectary colony and a table grape colony from Nietvoorbij experimental farm were also included in the study. A range of concentrations of chlorpyrifos was applied topically to individuals from the different colonies. The Stellenbosch population had the lowest LDso, although it was not significantly different from that of the insectary and Robertson colonies. The Hex River Valley and table grape colonies had a significantly higher LDso than the Robertson, Stellenbosch and insectary colonies, although the relative tolerance was 1.5, which would probably not result in significant control failure in the field. However, this does indicate that there is potential for the development of resistance to chlorpyrifos in the vine mealybug in South Africa. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Kolonies van Planococcus ficus (Signoret), is versamel en geteel uit drie verskillende areas, Hex.riviervallei, Robertson en Stellenbosch. 'n Bestaande insektarium kolonie van die Lanbou Navorsings Raad en 'n tafeldruif kolonie vanaf Nietvoorbij proefplaas is ook ingesluit in die studie. 'n Reeks konsentrasies van chlorpyrifos is topikaal aangewend aan individue van die verskillende kolonies. Die Stellenbosch populasie het die laagste LDso getoon alhoewel dit nie betekenisvol verskil het van die LDso van die insektarium - en Robertson kolonies nie. Die Hexriviervallei en tafeldruif kolonies se LDso was betekenisvol hoër as die Robertson, Stellenbosch and insektarium kolonies. Alhoewel die relatiewe weerstand 1.5 was, sal dit waarskynlik nie tot 'n aansienlike beheermislukking in die veld lei nie. Nogtans dui dit op die potensiaal vir moontlike ontwikkeling van weerstand teen chlorpyrifos in die wingerdwitluis.

The whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is a serious pest of protected vegetable and ornamental crops in most temperate regions of the world. Neonicotinoids, pymetrozine (a feeding blocker), spiromesifen (a tetronic acid derivative), bifenthrin (a pyrethroid), and pyriproxyfen (a juvenile hormone mimic) are among the most important insecticides used to control this species. Bioassays were used to quantify responses of recently-collected strains of T. vaporariorum to three neonicotinoids (imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, and acetamiprid), pymetrozine, spiromesifen, bifenthrin, and pyriproxyfen. 454 pyrosequencing was exploited to generate the first transcriptome for this species. PCR-sequencing was used to identify mutations in the target proteins of spiromesifen and bifenthrin potentially associated with resistance to these compounds. Microarray sequencing technology was employed to investigate differences in gene expression associated with pyriproxyfen resistance. Resistance to neonicotinoids was age-specific in expression and consistently associated with resistance to pymetrozine, supporting a hypothesis of metabolic resistance analogous to that in the tobacco whitefly, Bemisia tabaci. Bioassays also showed moderate to high level resistance to spiromesifen, bifenthrin and pyriproxyfen in some strains. Analysis of the transcriptome identified genes encoding enzymes involved in the detoxification of xenobiotics (cytochrome P450s, carboxyl/cholinesterases, and glutathione-s transferases) and ones encoding insecticide targets: acetyl-coA carboxylase (ACCase), the target of spiromesifen and the voltage-gated sodium channel protein targeted by pyrethroids. PCR-sequencing revealed a single nucleotide polymorphism in the ACCase gene, which was consistently associated with spiromesifen resistance. Three amino-acid substitutions in the sodium channel of pyrethroid-resistant T. vaporariorum were found in positions previously implicated in pyrethroid resistance in B. tabaci. Microarray sequencing disclosed that a cytochrome P450 gene (CYP4G61) was overexpressed in a strain selected for increased pyriproxyfen resistance. The implications of these results and opportunities for further work are discussed.

Com a crescente expansão de cultivos agrícolas no Brasil, tem sido bastante comum o sistema de produção de algodão e milho em uma mesma região. Como uma possível conseqüência deste sistema de cultivo, os problemas com Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) têm aumentado nestas duas culturas nos últimos anos. Assim, para o estabelecimento de um manejo mais efetivo desta praga, foi levantada a hipótese de que as mesmas populações de S. frugiperda atacam as culturas do algodão e milho em uma determinada região. Para testar esta hipótese, foram realizados os seguintes estudos: 1) a avaliação a suscetibilidade ao piretróide deltametrina em populações de S. frugiperda, e 2) a estimativa da similaridade e da estrutura genética em populações de S. frugiperda com o uso de marcadores moleculares RAPD e AFLP. A avaliação da suscetibilidade a deltametrina das populações de S. frugiperda foi realizada mediante bioensaio de aplicação tópica. Além disso, foi avaliada a resposta à seleção com deltametrina em uma população de S. frugiperda em condições de laboratório. As populações de S. frugiperda coletadas na cultura do algodão foram significativamente menos suscetíveis a deltametrina do que as populações coletadas no milho. Estes resultados poderiam ser entendidos como uma conseqüência da pré-seleção de indivíduos resistentes a deltametrina A população de S. frugiperda selecionada em laboratório apresentou uma razão de resistência a deltametrina de ≈14 vezes. Pela técnica de RAPD, os dendrogramas (Simple Matching e Jaccard) classificaram as populações da praga em grupos proximamente relacionados com a região geográfica de coleta dos insetos. Não foi identificado nenhum ramo capaz de separar e associar as populações de S. frugiperda a nenhuma das duas plantas hospedeiras avaliadas. Estes resultados sugeriram que as populações da praga em algodão e milho em uma determinada região do Brasil apresentam um nível significativo de fluxo gênico. Os resultados da técnica AFLP foram organizados em um dendrograma UPGMA (índice de Jaccard), o qual também não classificou as populações da praga em grupos relacionados às plantas nas quais os insetos foram coletados. Não foi detectada correlação significativa entre a dissimilaridade genética e distância geográfica nas populações testadas. Foi detectada variação molecular entre as populações da praga atribuída à origem geográfica dos insetos. A análise molecular de variância indicou que 7% da variação molecular total poderiam ser atribuídos à divisão das populações de S. frugiperda em grupos de insetos coletados no Brasil e na Argentina. Além disso, foi detectado 0% de variação genética, e um valor de fluxo gênico Nm=1,32 entre os grupos de populações da praga coletadas nas culturas do algodão e do milho. Assim, as infestações de S. frugiperda que ocorrem em campos de milho e algodão podem ser consideradas como subunidades potencialmente intercruzantes de uma mesma população. Portanto, conclui-se que há necessidade de um planejamento bastante estratégico nos plantios de algodão e de milho, no delineamento de programas de manejo de S. frugiperda no Brasil. / Due to the expansion of the cultivated areas in Brazil, it has been very common to find the cultivation of cotton and maize in the same region. As a potential consequence to this cultivation system, the problems with Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) have increased for the last years at both crops. In order to provide elements to the establishment of a more effective management of this pest it was hypothesized that the same populations of S. frugiperda attack the cotton and maize crops in Brazil. To test this hypothesis the following studies were conducted: 1) the evaluation the susceptibility to the pyrethroid deltamethrin in S. frugiperda populations and 2) the assessment of the molecular variability and genetic structure in S. frugiperda populations by using RAPD and AFLP molecular markers. The evaluation of the susceptibility to deltamethrin in S. frugiperda populations was conducted by using topical application bioassays. Furthermore, the response of this pest to the selection pressure with the insecticide was evaluated under laboratory conditions. The insect populations collected in the cotton crop were significantly less susceptible to deltamethrin than the ones collected in the maize crop. These results might be consequence of a pre-selection of deltamethrin-resistant individuals. The deltamethrin-resistant population selected under laboratory conditions had the resistance ratio of ≈14 fold. The dendrograms obtained by using RAPD markers (Simple Matching and Jaccard) classified the populations into clusters related to the geographical origin of the samples. Any branch of the dendrograms underpinned a molecular association of S. frugiperda with neither of the two host plants. These results suggested the existence of considerable gene flow between cotton and maize populations of S. frugiperda collected at the same region in Brazil. The AFLP results were organized in a UPGMA dendrogram (Jaccard index) which also did not classify the populations of S. frugiperda into clusters related to the host plant in which the insects were collected. It was not found a significant correlation between genetic dissimilarity and geographical distances. It was detected genetic variation attributable to the geographical origin of the populations. The analysis of molecular variance highlighted 7% of the variation due to the division of the S. frugiperda populations into Brazilian and Argentine groups. Also, no molecular variation (0%) and a gene flow rate equal to Nm=1.32 were estimated between fall armyworm group of populations collected at maize and cotton fields in Brazil. The same populations of S. frugiperda infest cotton and maize crops in Brazil and could be considered as interbreeding subunits of the same population. Therefore, there is a need of strategic action plans to the planting of cotton and maize crops for designing of management programs of S. frugiperda in Brazil.

Orientador: Lilian Madi-Ravazzi / Banca: Carlos Roberto Ceron / Banca: Alba Regina De Abreu Lima / Resumo: D. melanogaster e D. simulans são espécies irmãs nativas da África tropical que divergiram de um ancestral comum a cerca de dois Myr. Estas espécies têm sido comparadas em vários traços, incluindo a morfologia, fisiologia, comportamento sexual, aloenzimas e outras proteínas, inversões cromossômicas, DNA nuclear e mitocondrial, elementos transponíveis, infecção por Wolbachia entre outros. Entretanto, estudos em populações da América do Sul, inclusive do Brasil, são escassos. O objetivo principal do trabalho foi comparar linhagens geográficas de D. melanogaster e D. simulans do Brasil, África e França, quanto à suscetibilidade ao inseticida DDT, ao padrão de beta e alfa esterases, principalmente em relação à frequência do polimorfismo da esterase- 6 em indivíduos fenotipados como resistentes e suscetíveis, e a atividade da glutationa S-transferase. Ambas as espécies mostraram uma ampla variabilidade nos valores da CL50 obtidos. Os maiores valores foram observados nas linhagens africanas de D. melanogaster e D. simulans, TANA (447,89 μg/mL), e TANA-4 (920 μg/mL). A linhagem Canton-S de D. melanogaster foi a que apresentou o menor valor de CL50 = 2,99 μg/mL. Comparando as populações de mesma localidade de ambas as espécies verifica-se que as linhagens de D. melanogaster mostraram valores de CL50 maiores que os de D. simulans, com exceção da linhagem FLO onde D. simulans apresentou um valor de CL50 (94,60) ligeiramente superior ao de D. melanogaster (81,82). Foram analisadas duas bandas α-esterásicas, denominadas de α-1 e α-2, sendo que a banda α-2 foi observada em 100% de todos os indivíduos analisados de ambas as espécies. Os dados mostram maior variabilidade genética para D. melanogaster em relação à resistência ao DDT, alta resistência para as linhagens africanas de ambas as espécies, indicando que estas populações continuam sendo selecionadas por este... / Abstract: D. melanogaster and D. simulans are sister species native to tropical Africa which diverged from a common ancestor about two Myr. These species have been compared in several traits, including morphology, physiology, sexual behavior, allozymes and other proteins, chromosomal inversions, nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, transposable elements, Wolbachia infection among others. However, studies in populations of South America, including Brazil, are scarce. The main objective of the study was to compare geographic strains of D. melanogaster and D. simulans from Brazil, Africa and France, for susceptibility to the insecticide DDT, the pattern of α and β esterases, especially in relation to the frequency of the polymorphism of esterase-6 in individuals phenotyped as resistant and susceptible, and the activity of glutathione-S-transferase . Both species showed a wide variability in LC50 values obtained. The highest values were observed in African strains of D. melanogaster and D. simulans, TANA (447.89 mg / mL), and TANA-4 (920 / mL). The Canton-S strain of D. melanogaster was the one with the lowest LC50 = 2.99 mg / mL. Comparing populations from the same location of both species the strains of D. melanogaster showed LC50 values larger than D. simulans, except FLO D. simulans strain had a LC50 (94.60) slightly higher than D. melanogaster (81.82). We analyzed two bands α-esterases, which we call α-1 and α-2, and the band α-2 was observed in 100% of all individuals analyzed in both species. The data show greater genetic variability for D. melanogaster for resistance to DDT, high resistance to African strains of both species, indicating that these populations continue to be selected by this or another insecticide, the lack of a cline for the F and S alleles in strains of both species, suggest that treatment with DDT may have selected individuals heterozygous for some strains, which may have masked the... / Mestre

Present in almost all living organisms, cytochrome P450s form one of the biggest enzyme superfamilies. They are versatile biocatalysts, capable of performing a range of biochemical reactions and are involved in a wide spectrum of biological functions. The vinegar fly, Drosophila melanogaster, has 85 P450s in its sequenced genome. Six of these have been found to catalyse the synthesis of the important insect molting hormone, 20-hydroxyecdysone and a handful have been implicated in insecticide resistance. The other P450s remained largely uncharacterised. / In the first half of this thesis, the expression patterns of P450s in the D. melanogaster genome were characterised by in situ hybridisation at the third instar larval stage. Most P450s have defined expression patterns at this stage of development. A majority of P450s are expressed in the midgut, Malpighian tubules and fat body, tissues that are involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics. Other P450s are expressed in specific tissues, such as the prothoracic glands, the salivary glands and the gonads, where they might have roles in development or reproduction. In particular, Cyp6g2 is expressed in the corpus allatum (CA), where it could play a role in juvenile hormone synthesis. An RNAi lethality screen using lines that were available from the Vienna Drosophila RNAi Centre identified a number of P450s which are essential for development and viability. / In the second half of the thesis, the transcriptional regulation of a P450 involved in insecticide resistance, Cyp6g1, was investigated. Cyp6g1 was regulated by two discrete cis-regulatory modules/enhancers, one controlling expression in the Malpighian tubules and one controlling expression in the midgut and fat body. Phenobarbital induction of Cyp6g1 is tissue-specific and is mediated by a fragment in the 5’ regulatory region that interacts with both enhancers. Characterisation of the long terminal repeat (LTR) of the Accord transposable element in the 5’ region of Cyp6g1, present in insecticide resistant populations, shows that the Accord LTR contains cis-regulatory elements which increase expression of Cyp6g1 in the fat body, midgut and Malpighian tubules, and contribute to insecticide resistance in these populations. / This study shows that the diverse tissue distribution of different P450s in D. melanogaster is related to the diverse biological functions of the enzymes encoded. This is exemplified by the detailed examination of the regulation of the insecticide resistance-conferring P450, Cyp6g1. Its expression pattern reflects its detoxification function in the fly. The role of transposable element insertions in changing gene expression patterns and contributing to selectable variation in genomes is also demonstrated through the Cyp6g1 study.

Cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs), found in almost all organisms, are involved in endobiotic metabolism and detoxification of xenobiotic compounds, such as drugs, pollutants, and insecticides. In insects, CYPs play a major role in conferring resistance to various insecticides including DDT. In Drosophila and other insects, DDT-resistant strains exhibit increased expression of multiple P450 genes; however, the mechanism of overexpression is unknown. Since many CYP genes including Cyp6a8 of Drosophila are induced by caffeine and other xenobiotics, these chemicals are used as tools to understand the regulation of these genes. Previously it was shown that the 0.8-kb (-1/-732) and 0.2-kb (-1/-170) upstream DNA of Cyp6a8 of the DDT-resistant 91-R strain support caffeine, DDT, and Phenobarbital induction in adult flies and S2 cells, the 0.2-kb DNA has many transcriptionally important sequence motifs. In the present investigation, site-directed mutagenesis was performed on the putative TATA box and CREB/AP-1 motifs located at the -97/-101, -57/-61, -43/-47, and -6/-10 regions of the 0.2- and 0.8 DNAs to determine their cis-regulatory role in caffeine and PB induction in S2 cells using luciferase reporter system. Results showed that all four deletions in 0.2- and 0.8-kb DNA decreased both basal and caffeine-induced activities, but maximum effect was seen with the -57/-61 deletion. Second, the TATA mutations greatly decreased basal activity, but they did not decrease caffeine-inducibility as much as the -57/-61 mutations. Third, the effects of other three deletions on basal activities were not as pronounced in the 0.8-kb environment as were seen in the 0.2-kb environment. Taken together these results suggest that of all four putative CREB/AP1 sites the one located at -57/-61 region is most important for both basal and caffeine-induced activities. The results also suggest that the additional 600 bases upstream of -1/-170 have distal elements that interact with the proximal promoter in the 0.2-kb DNA and boost basal transcription. A model suggesting interactions of all cis elements with the basal promoter for basal and induced transcription has been proposed.

The diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella L.) is a major pest of crucifer crops worldwide. It is a particularly important problem in Southeast Asia where climatic conditions favor a short generation time and rapid proliferation. In countries such as Thailand, the diamondback moth has apparently become resistant to all classes of insecticides, even the newest ones. The first part of this thesis is the development of a computer database of all the available information on diamondback moth toxicology. About 1,550 records were extracted from more than 235 published or unpublished documents. These records include information on the geographical location of experiments, the insecticide evaluated, the testing method and the results observed. Most records in the database are from the last decade, and are predominantly from Taiwan, Thailand, the USA and Japan. Trends in the use of various classes of insecticides can easily be followed. Thirty three records have been found of insecticide resistance of more than a thousandfold. An the known mechanisms of resistance are found, and the diamondback moth has become resistant to all the classes of insecticides, including Bacillus thuringiensis but excluding abamectin. Case studies made possible by the use of the database showed a rapid succession in the use of 29 insecticides in the last 26 years in a single country (Thailand). Although this rapid succession is usually ascribed to the development of resistance, a case study on the regional differences in resistance to five insecticides showed marked variations in the level of resistance over distances of 20 miles or more. The possibility of managing insecticide resistance at the local level, already suggested by studies in Hawaii, is thus supported by this analysis. In the second part of this thesis, the toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis var. aizawai and of the bacterial toxin abamectin was tested by two bioassay techniques on populations of the diamondback moth from two Chinese kale fields at locations in Thailand at which the highest levels of resistance to most insecticides have been reported. The leaf-dip bioassay was found to be superior to a residue-vial assay or to the FAO-recommended assay. More than 70-fold resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis var. aizawai was observed in the populations of DBM collected from these two fields, suporting the theory that resistance resulted in the control failures reported by growers. Resistance did not explain control failures with abamectin as no resistance to this compound could be detected. The third part of this thesis analyzes the intraplant distribution of the diamondback moth larvae in an effort to explain the control failures with abamectin on Chinese kale. Extensive sampling of the various larval instars of the diamondback moth revealed that a majority of second instar larvae were sheltered on the young folded leaves of Chinese kale. The majority of fourth instar larvae and pupae were found on mature (lower) leaves. Inefficient spraying practices observed in the field with high volume, low pressure hydraulic pump sprayers may allow the young larvae to escape pesticide exposure possibly explaining control failures in the absence of physiological resistance. This study shows that resistance in the diamondback moth is a worldwide problem of major proportions. The rapid development of resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis in the field is of practical concern. Resistance management programs in developing countries should include mechanisms to optimize insecticide delivery to the protected habitats of diamondback moth on Chinese kale. / Graduation date: 1992