Award details

Ecological genetics and management of insecticide resistance

Reference	BBS/E/C/00004331
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Ian Denholm
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Rothamsted Research
Department	Rothamsted Research Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	862,294
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/2000
End date	31/03/2008
Duration	96 months

Abstract

The evolution of insecticide resistance by arthropod pests is a serious threat to the sustainability of control strategies involving conventional insecticides or insect-tolerant GM crops. This project aims to improve understanding of the key ecological, genetic and behavioural factors influencing the development and spread of resistance genes in pest populations. The work involves several pest species (primarily aphids, whiteflies, spider mites and lepidopteran pests) with contrasting life histories, and is conducted over different spatial scales ranging from small-scale laboratory experiments, through `field simulator¿ technology in the Rothamsted insectary, to the open field. Primary objectives are to characterise the incidence, expression and inheritance of resistance to established and newer control agents, to determine how differences in life-history, reproductive strategies and dispersal patterns affect the likelihood of resistance evolving, and to formulate tactics to prevent resistance genes reaching economically-damaging frequencies. Through collaborations within and outside Rothamsted, new tools in molecular ecology and ecological modelling are being exploited to analyse and predict the dynamics of resistance. Close integration of this project with related ones funded by Defra, grower groups and agrochemical companies provides unique access to experimental material and facilitates effective communication of results and recommendations to end-users.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Agri-food (AF)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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