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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wapato, Washington » Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #308805

Title: Putative nicotinic acetylchloline receptor subunits express differentially through life cycle of codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Author
item Garczynski, Stephen
item Martin, Jessica

Submitted to: Insect Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/30/2014
Publication Date: 4/2/2016
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/62781
Citation: Garczynski, S.F., Martin, J.A. 2016. Putative nicotinic acetylchloline receptor subunits express differentially through life cycle of codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Insect Science. 23:277-287.

Interpretive Summary: The use of “reduced-risk” insecticides in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs have been effective in controlling codling moth and other insect pests of tree fruit. However, there are now concerns that codling moth may develop resistance to these effective control agents. To address these concerns, Scientists at the USDA-ARS Yakima Agricultural Laboratory in Wapato, WA are conducting research to identify and characterize the protein targets of the newer, “reduced-risk”, insecticides. This manuscript provides up-to-date information on the identification and characterization of codling moth nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, the protein targets of “reduced-risk” insecticides. The information contained in this study will be useful in the future for monitoring resistance to “reduced-risk” insecticides, helping to preserve the effectiveness of these control agents.

Technical Abstract: Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are the targets of neonicotinoids and spinosads, two insecticides used in orchards to effectively control codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.)(Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). The nAChRs mediate the fast actions of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in synaptic transmissions in the central nervous systems of insects. To date, the gene transcripts encoding codling moth nAChR subunits have not been identified. This study had two main goals; 1) identify transcripts from a codling moth head transcriptome that encode for nAChR subunits, and 2) determine nAChR subunit expression profiles in various life stages of codling moth. From a codling moth head transcriptome, 19 transcripts encoding for 12 putative nAChR subunit classes were identified and verified by RT-PCR and cloning. Stage expression studies determined that there is clear differential expression of many of these subunits throughout the codling moth life cycle. This information will be useful in monitoring for potential target-site resistance to neonicotinoids and spinosads in tolerant codling moth populations, and will aid the design of novel control agents that target specific nAChRs of this orchard pest.