Neonicotinoid resistance in adults and nymphs of Bemisia tabaci (Genn., 1889) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) populations in tomato fields from Tokat, Turkey

Bemisia tabaci (Genn., 1889) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is one of the most important agricultural pests in Turkey and in the world. This polyphagous pest is a highly efficient vectors of plant viruses and has the ability to rapidly develop resistance to diverse range of insecticides, hence controlling this pest is problematic. In this study, bioassays and biochemical tests were conducted to determine resistance to neonicotinoid in B. tabaci populations collected in 2017-2018 from Tokat (Turkey). According to the adult test results, resistance ratios for acetamiprid, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam were 5.64-16.8, 10.0-30.9 and 4.01-14.9, respectively. The highest resistance ratio for acetamiprid and thiamethoxam in the Pazar population were 16.8 and 14.9, respectively. The highest resistance ratio to imidacloprid was 30.9 in the TOGU campus population. According to the nymph test results, resistance ratios for acetamiprid, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam were 2.96-8.60; 4.29-8.74 and 2.48-4.88, respectively. Enzyme analysis revealed statistically higher metabolic resistance. Maximum enzyme activities were 4.37 and 3.79 pmol/min/mg protein for cytochrome P450 monooxygenase in TOGU campus and Pazar populations, respectively.