Fitness cost of spinosad resistance related to vitellogenin in Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande)

Background The western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis, a worldwide agricultural pest, has developed resistance to an array of insecticides. Spinosad resistance confers an apparent fitness cost in F. occidentalis. In the present study, we compared the reproductive capacities, ovary development, and the expression of the vitellogenin (Vg) gene in spinosad‐susceptible (Ivf03) and ‐resistant (NIL‐R) near isogenetic lines of F. occidentalis in order to clarify the reason for the fitness cost in spinosad resistance. Results The NIL‐R strain exhibited a 17.9% decrease in fecundity (eggs laid per female) as compared to the Ivf03 strain, and the ovariole was significantly shortened by 2.8% in the NIL‐R strain relative to the Ivf03 strain. Compared to the Ivf03 strain, the expression levels of Vg mRNA and protein were downregulated by 33.7% and 32.9% in the NIL‐R strain, respectively. Moreover, interference with the Vg gene significantly reduced the expression levels of Vg mRNA and protein, and decreased ovariole length, survival rates and the fecundity of both strains. Conclusion The results indicate that the downregulated expression of Vg may contribute to the reduction of ovariole length and consequently to a fitness cost in spinosad‐resistant F. occidentalis. The results not only increase our understanding of the evolution of insecticide resistance, but also could contribute to the formulation of control strategy of F. occidentalis. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. Downregulated expression of Vg may contribute to the reduction of ovariole length and consequently to a fitness cost in the spinosad‐resistant strain of F. occidentalis.