The fitness advantages of bistrifluron resistance related to chitin synthase A in Spodoptera litura (Fab.) (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera)

BACKGROUND Spodoptera litura is one of the major agricultural pests in China, and it has developed serious resistance to many traditional chemical insecticides. In the present study, the bistrifluron‐resistant (Bis‐SEL) strain accompanied by a higher oviposition, 113.8‐fold RR compared to the bistrifluron‐susceptible (Bis‐UNSEL) strain, was obtained by bidirectional screening. A comparison of their gonad coefficiency and genes related to oviposition or resistance was used to elucidate the resurgence mechanism. RESULTS The ovarian index, oviposition, and potential egg production in the Bis‐SEL strain of female adults were significantly higher than those in the Bis‐UNSEL strain, and the length of ovariole in the Bis‐SEL strain was also significantly elongated. The protein contents of vitellogenin (Vg) and vitellogenin receptor (VgR) in the Bis‐UNSEL strain were lower than those in the Bis‐SEL strain, consistent with their gene expressions levels, and there was a significantly positive linear correlation between Vg and VgR protein contents, further confirming that resistant strains have high reproductive fitness. Moreover, the chitin synthase A in the Bis‐SEL strain was clearly up‐regulated, and a mutation (H866Y) near the QRRRW in the catalytic domain caused a rise in the hydrogen bond between UDP‐GlcNAc and chitin synthase, and its chitin content was higher than that in the Bis‐UNSEL strain. Nevertheless, the sensitivity of the Bis‐SEL strain to bistrifluron was significantly recovered when it was knocked down though RNA interference. CONCLUSION The fitness advantages of bistrifluron resistance may be related to the up‐regulation and mution of chitin synthase A. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry. This work investigates that the fitness advantages of bistrifluron resistance were verified by determining the oviposition, potential egg production, and contents of Vg and VgR. The chitin synthase A of Bis‐SEL strain was down‐regulated, when knock downed, its sensitivity to bistrifluron was significantly increased. A mutation (H866Y) found in the Bis‐SEL strain caused a rise in the hydrogen bond between UDP‐GlcNAc and chitin synthase. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.