LA RESISTENZA AGLI INSETTICIDI NEI LEPIDOTTERI: CYDIA POMONELLA COME CASO STUDIO

The codling moth, Cydia pomonella (Cp) is a major pest in most pome fruit orchards worldwide. Under the selective pressure caused by an increasing number of chemical treatments, Cp has developed a reduced sensitivity towards different pesticides. In this paper, we overviewed the mechanisms of insecticide resistance in Cp populations with particular emphasis on data collected in Emilia-Romagna orchards showing that the reduced susceptibility to insecticide treatments seems to be mainly caused by an increased MFO activity with a minor contribution of GST. Target-site mutations within AChE-1 seems a rare phenomenon world wide, since they were found in Spain only. Given the complexity of the mechanisms of resistance found so far in Cp, only the availability of breeding population that can be maintained under selection pressure, will allow to explore the genetic basis of resistance with greater chance of success. The understanding of the molecular basis of the resistance mechanisms is the starting point in order to allow the adoption of novel pest management strategies directed to circumvent and/or delay resistance outbreaks and to control the insensitive pests.