Methomyl resistance in strains and crosses of tobacco budworm: degree of dominance and patroclinous effects

A field-collected (field) and a susceptible reference strain of tobacco budworm [Heliothis virescens (F.)] were crossed to determine mode of inheritance for their response to methomyl (Lannate). The field strain was not selected because we wanted to determine the mode of inheritance of a non-selected strain. Our results were different from previous results on the inheritance of response to this insecticide with other strains of this insect. Methomyl was applied topically to progeny of the field and susceptible strains and crosses of them. LD50 values (as microgram methomyl/larva) were determined after 48 h. Probit analysis was used to calculate 95% confidence intervals and slopes of regression. The LD50 value of the field strain was significantly greater (17-fold) than that of the susceptible strain. The LD50 values of both reciprocal crosses of F1 and F2 were not significantly different from the LD50 of the field strain, indicating that response to methomyl by this field strain was dominant. The LD50 of susceptible x field (female listed first) in the F1 reciprocal cross was significantly greater than the LD50 of field x susceptible, indicating a possible sex linkage. Results indicate a possible patroclinous effect.