Molecular targets of insecticides and herbicides – are there useful overlaps

Authors: DUKE, STEPHEN - University Of Mississippi; Pan, Zhiqiang - Peter; CHITTIBOYINA, AMAR - University Of Mississippi; SWALE, R. DANIEL - University Of Mississippi; SPARKS, THOMAS - University Of Mississippi

Submitted to: Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/10/2023
Publication Date: 1/14/2023
Citation: Duke, S., Pan, Z., Chittiboyina, A., Swale, R., Sparks, T. 2023. Molecular targets of insecticides and herbicides – are there useful overlaps. Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pestbp.2023.105340.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pestbp.2023.105340

Interpretive Summary: New insecticide modes of action are needed for insecticide resistance management strategies. The number of molecular targets of commercial herbicides and insecticides are fewer than 35 for both. Few commercial insecticide targets are found in plants, but ten targets of commercial herbicides are found in insects. For several of these commonly held targets, some compounds kill both plants and insects. For example, herbicidal inhibitors of p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase are effective insecticides on blood-fed insects. The glutamine synthetase-inhibiting herbicide glufosinate is insecticidal by the same mechanism of action, inhibition of glutamine synthetase. These and other examples of shared activities of commercial herbicides with insecticides through the same target site are discussed. Compounds with novel herbicide targets shared by insects that are not commercialized as pesticides (such as statins) are also discussed. Compounds that are both herbicidal and insecticidal can be used for insect pests not associated with crops or with crops made resistant to the compounds.

Technical Abstract: New insecticide modes of action are needed for insecticide resistance management strategies. The number of molecular targets of commercial herbicides and insecticides are fewer than 35 for both. Few commercial insecticide targets are found in plants, but ten targets of commercial herbicides are found in insects. For several of these commonly held targets, some compounds kill both plants and insects. For example, herbicidal inhibitors of p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase are effective insecticides on blood-fed insects. The glutamine synthetase-inhibiting herbicide glufosinate is insecticidal by the same mechanism of action, inhibition of glutamine synthetase. These and other examples of shared activities of commercial herbicides with insecticides through the same target site are discussed. Compounds with novel herbicide targets shared by insects that are not commercialized as pesticides (such as statins) are also discussed. Compounds that are both herbicidal and insecticidal can be used for insect pests not associated with crops or with crops made resistant to the compounds.