Activity of detoxification enzymes in Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) after exposure to Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo)

Rhynchophorus ferrugineus is a devastating pest of palms worldwide. An integrated management strategy largely depends on chemical insecticides but due to concerns about human health risks and environmental pollution, it’s essential to emphasize on the integrated pest management (IPM). In the current research the activities of detoxification enzymes esterases (EST), alkaline phosphatases (ALP), acid phosphatases (ACP), glutathione S-transferases (GST), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in R. ferrugineus collected from Punjab, Baluchistan, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) provinces of Pakistan were estimated after infection of Beauveria bassiana on 3rd-, 5th- and 7th-day post-treatment. The insects were exposed by immersion method with different concentrations of B. bassiana. The significant increase in activities of ALP (6.09), ACP (2.51), AChE (21.28) and EST (8.61) μmol/min/mg protein was observed in KPK population, while a significant increase in the activity of GST (5.23 μmol/min/mg protein) was recorded in Baluchistan population on 7th- day. The detection of elevated activities of detoxification enzymes showed the possibility of the resistance development against B. bassiana in R. ferrugineus.