Department
Biological Sciences
Major
Biology and Physics Double Major
Research Advisor
Krishnan, Niranjana
Advisor's Department
Biological Sciences
Funding Source
Missouri S&T
Abstract
Soybean loopers (Chrysodeixis includens) and corn earworms (Helicoverpa zea) are moth pests of soybean and corn fields across the United States, including Missouri. Here, we assessed their toxic and metabolic responses to cypermethrin, a pyrethroid insecticide registered for foliar use in agriculture.
An analysis of literature studies and generation of preliminary dose-response curves in the laboratory indicated that, although corn earworms and soybean loopers belong to the same lepidopteran family (Noctuidae), they show different susceptibilities to topically applied cypermethrin. To assess if metabolic factors are responsible for these differences, we undertook synergistic studies with PBO, TPP, and DEM, which are the inhibitors of three major detoxifying enzymes in the insect body: cytochrome P450s, esterases, and glutathione-s-transferases. We also measured the activity of the detoxifying enzymes through standardized assays.
Findings from this research will be incorporated into a larger project with the goal of identifying surrogate (pest and non-target) species for testing and elucidating differences in susceptibilities. This is necessary to accurately estimate toxic responses within and across taxonomic orders.
Biography
Kathryn Zychinski is a lab assistant for Dr. Krishnan Niranjana's lab at Missouri Science and Technology where they and two other lab members have begun researching the metabolic responses of two lepidopteran species to a commonly employed insecticide. As of 2022, they are a sophomore-level undergraduate here at Missouri S&T with plans to double major in both Biology and Physics along with minoring in pre-medicine. They are an active member of the Missouri S&T Honors Academy and the Spectrum club, and their academic interests lie in the field of neurology.
Research Category
Sciences
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Document Type
Poster
Award
Sciences – section 2 poster presentation, Second place
Location
Upper Atrium
Presentation Date
14 Apr 2022, 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Insecticide Metabolic Responses of Two Lepidoptera
Upper Atrium
Soybean loopers (Chrysodeixis includens) and corn earworms (Helicoverpa zea) are moth pests of soybean and corn fields across the United States, including Missouri. Here, we assessed their toxic and metabolic responses to cypermethrin, a pyrethroid insecticide registered for foliar use in agriculture.
An analysis of literature studies and generation of preliminary dose-response curves in the laboratory indicated that, although corn earworms and soybean loopers belong to the same lepidopteran family (Noctuidae), they show different susceptibilities to topically applied cypermethrin. To assess if metabolic factors are responsible for these differences, we undertook synergistic studies with PBO, TPP, and DEM, which are the inhibitors of three major detoxifying enzymes in the insect body: cytochrome P450s, esterases, and glutathione-s-transferases. We also measured the activity of the detoxifying enzymes through standardized assays.
Findings from this research will be incorporated into a larger project with the goal of identifying surrogate (pest and non-target) species for testing and elucidating differences in susceptibilities. This is necessary to accurately estimate toxic responses within and across taxonomic orders.
Comments
Joint project with Amberly Scott and John Sneed