Monitoring of Insecticide Resistance and Resistance-Related Point Mutations in Field-Collected Aphis gossypii Populations in the Northern Xinjiang, China

TL;DR

This study tracks insecticide resistance in cotton aphids from Xinjiang, China, and identifies genetic mutations linked to resistance over a one-year period.

Contribution

The study documents resistance evolution and genetic mutation patterns in Aphis gossypii populations in response to insecticide use in northern Xinjiang.

Findings

Aphis gossypii populations showed highest resistance to imidacloprid and moderate resistance to acetamiprid.

Sulfoxaflor resistance increased rapidly from low to moderate levels within a year.

The S431F mutation in the AChE gene reached nearly 100% frequency, while other mutations remained low or stable.

Abstract

Between 2024 and 2025, we collected cotton aphids (Aphis gossypii) from eight regions in Xinjiang to evaluate their resistance levels to five commonly used insecticides and to monitor genetic mutations associated with such resistance. Our findings indicate that these aphid population exhibited the strongest resistance to imidacloprid, mostly at moderate-to-high levels, followed by moderate resistance to acetamiprid across all sampled populations. Resistance to abamectin and sulfoxaflor remained relatively low, but sulfoxaflor resistance increased from low to moderate levels within a single year. All aphid groups maintained high susceptibility to chlorpyrifos. Regarding the target-site mutations examined, one genetic locus demonstrated a near-complete mutation frequency (100%), another remained stable at approximately 30%, two showed minor increases, while others maintained minimal mutation frequencies. This study elucidates the evolutionary patterns of insecticide resistance in Xinjiang’s cotton aphid populations and documents corresponding genetic changes, providing valuable insights for agricultural practitioners to optimize insecticide selection and implement effective resistance management strategies for cotton crop protection.

In 2024 and 2025, field populations of Aphis gossypii were collected from eight regions in Xinjiang to monitor their resistance levels to five commonly used insecticides: sulfoxaflor, acetamiprid, imidacloprid, abamectin, and chlorpyrifos. The mutation frequencies of five sites in the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) gene (S431F, V332A, A302S, G221A, F139L) and three sites in the β1 subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) (R81T, V62I, K264E) were also analyzed. The results showed that from 2024 to 2025, the eight A. gossypii field populations exhibited the highest resistance to imidacloprid (primarily moderate to high resistance), followed by acetamiprid (all moderate resistance). Resistance to abamectin and sulfoxaflor was relatively low, but sulfoxaflor resistance increased rapidly (from low resistance in 2024 to moderate resistance in 2025). All populations remained consistently susceptible to chlorpyrifos. Gene analysis revealed that the mutation rate of S431F in the AChE gene was nearly 100%, while that of V332A remained stable at approximately 30%. The mutation rates of A302S and G221A showed a slight increase, whereas the F139L mutation rate was extremely low (<1.00%). In the β1 subunit of nAChR, the mutation rates of R81T and V62I remained stable at around 50%, and the K264E mutation rate was extremely low (<1.00%). This study clarifies the resistance evolution patterns of A. gossypii to different insecticides and the variation characteristics of key resistance genes in Xinjiang, providing a scientific basis for the integrated resistance management of A. gossypii and the rational selection of effective insecticides.

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