Variations in esterases and Glutathione-S-Transferase levels in Bemisia Tabaci (Gennadius) Populations

Pyrethroids, carbamates and organophosphates, the most widely used group of insecticides are detoxified by the two major enzymes, esterases and glutathione s-transferase. Variations in these enzymes in the field populations of whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) on cotton were studied. Populations collected from five cotton growing regions viz., Sriganganagar (Rajasthan), Ludhiana (Punjab), Khandwa (Madhya Pradesh), Amravati (Maharashtra) and Delhi during 2013–14 and 201415 were evaluated. Laboratory populations collected from wild host, Leucaena leucocephala was used for comparison. The genetic groups of these populations were confirmed through mtCOI analyses. All the field populations were found belonging to the Asia II 1 genetic group whereas, laboratory population was of the Asia II 7 genetic group. Significant variation in both the enzymes was found in all the populations compared to the laboratory population.