본 연구에서는 연안으로 유출 위험이 있는 에마멕틴 벤조에이트(emamectin benzoate, EB) 성분의 농약에 대한 넙치의 폐사, 혈액학적 변화, 조직학적 변화를 확인하였다. EB 성분 농약을 96-well plate에서 48시간 동안 0.215, 2.15, 21.5, 215ppm의 농도로 EPC 세포에 노출한 후 세포 독성을 확인한 결과, 21.5ppm과 215ppm의 농도에서 세포 박리가 확인되었고 215ppm에서는 4.12±1.8%의 세포 생존율이 확인되었다. 넙치를 polypropylene수조(용량 300L)에 순치하고, EB 성분 농약을 침지법으로 48시간 동안 노출한 결과, 2.15ppm 21.5ppm 농도에서는 넙치가 모두 폐사했지만, 0.0215ppm과 0.215ppm 농도에서는 폐사가 관찰되지 않았다. 혈액학적 분석 결과, 혈장 glucose 농도는 21.5ppm 노출 넙치에서 control 대비 1.52배 증가하였고, total protein 농도는 2.15ppm, 21.5ppm 농도에서 control 대비 각각 0.71배, 0.74배 증가하였다. Cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase은 21.5ppm 농도에서 control 대비 각각 2.84배, 2.44배, 3.8배 증가하는 것을 확인하였다. Aspartate aminotransferase와 alanine aminotransferase는 21.5ppm 농도에서 control 대비 각각 0.4배 및 0.5배 증가하는 것을 확인하였다. 이상의 결과로, 21.5ppm 이상의 농도는 넙치의 급성 폐사를 유발하며, gluscos수치 증가로 인해 스트레스 증가 및 간과 신장 손상에 의한 혈액학적 변화를 유발하는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 한편 EB 성분 농약을 48시간 동안 단기간 처리하는 것에 의해서는 간 조직에 병변을 유발하지는 않았다.

The onion thrips, Thrips tabaci (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is a worldwide pest that causes serious damage to Allium crop species and acts as a vector for iris yellow spot virus (IYSV). In a previous study, we established an emamectin benzoate (EB) resistant strain (EB-R) with a 490-fold higher resistance ratio than the susceptible strain (SUS). The EB-R exhibited significantly increased transcript levels of glycine receptor alpha, glutamate-gated chloride channel (GluCl) b, and cytochrome P450 (CYP450) 6EB2 compared to SUS. To identify EB resistance-related genes that are differentially expressed genes between SUS and EB-R, we established an isogenic backcrossing strain and conducted transcriptome analysis after the 4th cycle of isogenic backcrossing. Among the 85 up-regulated genes in the transcriptome data, six cuticular protein genes showed up-regulation. Additionally, CYP450 4g15, which catalyzes the synthesis of cuticular hydrocarbons, exhibited a 6 log2-fold higher expression level in EB-R compared to SUS. Therefore, the elevated expression of genes associated with cuticle protein modification may be significantly is involved in the development of EB resistance.

Historically, the control of stored-product insects has mostly relied on the use of fumigants such as methyl bromide (MB) and phosphine. However, methyl bromide is no longer used for structural fumigations, and phosphine insecticide resistance is rising globally. Methyl benzoate (MBe) is a new green pesticide that occurs naturally as a metabolite in plants. In this study, we evaluated the the potential use of MBe as a fumigant against a variety of stored-product insects. According to our laboratory findings, MBe showed strong fumigation toxicity against the Indian meal moth and flat grain beetle with an LC50 value of 0.1 μL/L and 0.76 μL/1.5 L air, respectively, compared to the other tested insects. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed in susceptibility levels between the lab strain and the phosphine-resistant lesser grain borer and rice weevil. However, the red flour beetle had the highest LC50 value of 8.26 μL/1.5 L air. Overall, MBe seems to be a highly promising candidate for the development of environmentally-friendly alternative fumigants.