Resistance to fumigants has been frequently reported in insect pests of stored products and is one of the obstacles in controlling these pests. The authors studied phosphine resistance and its physiological basis in adult insects of 12 populations of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Tenebrionidae), ten populations of Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Bostrichidae) and eight populations of Oryzaephilus surinamensis L. (Silvanidae) from Brazil, and the possible existence of fitness costs associated with phosphine resistance in the absence of this fumigant. The bioassays for the detection of phosphine resistance followed the FAO standard method. The production of carbon dioxide and the instantaneous rate of population increase (r(i)) of each population of each species were correlated with their resistance ratios at the LC(50). The resistance ratio at LC(50) in T. castaneum ranged from 1.0- to 186.2-fold, in R. dominica from 2.0- to 71.0-fold and in O. surinamensis from 1.9- to 32.2-fold. Ten populations of T. castaneum, nine populations of R. dominica and seven populations of O. surinamensis were resistant to phosphine. In all three species there was significant association (P < 0.05) between respiration rate and phosphine resistance. The populations with lower carbon dioxide production showed a higher resistance ratio, suggesting that the lower respiration rate is the physiological basis of phosphine resistance by reducing the fumigant uptake in the resistant insects. Conversely, populations with higher r(i) showed lower resistance ratios, which could indicate a lower rate of reproduction of the resistant populations compared with susceptible populations. Thus, management strategies based on the interruption of phosphine fumigation may result in reestablishment of susceptibility, and shows good potential for more effective management of phosphine-resistant populations.

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-The resistance to fumigant insecticides in stored-products insects is often recorded. Several factors influence the evolution of insecticide resistance. Among these, the frequency of applications and the migration of resistant populations are of primary importance for the stored-product insects. The aim of this study was to characterize the spectrum and investigate the status of phosphine resistance in Brazil, in 13 populations of the coleoptera Tribolium castaneum Herbst (Tenebrionidae), ten populations of Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabr.) (Bostrichidae), and eight populations of Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) (Silvanidae). The pattern of resistance dispersion in the populations of these species was also verified. The bioassays for the detection of phosphine resistance followed the FAO standard method. To test the influence of migration in the evolution of the phosphine resistance, the difference of mortality in the discriminating concentration and the geographical distance among each pair wise combination of collection sites were correlated. None of the populations exhibited mortality above 90% in the discriminating concentration, for the three species. Mortality in the discriminating concentration increased with the geographical distance for R. dominica and O. surinamensis. However, no significant linear response was observed among the variables for T. castaneum populations. These results suggest that the dispersion of insects and the local selection are relevant in the evolution of the phosphine resistance in populations of R. dominica and O. surinamensis. In contrast, grain trade and local selection are probably the factors that determine the evolution of the phosphine resistance in populations of T. castaneum.

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-The objectives of this work were to assess phosphine resistance in insect populations (Tribolium castaneum, Rhyzopertha dominica, Sitophilus zeamais and Oryzaephilus surinamensis) from different regions of Brazil and to verify if the prevailing mechanism of phosphine resistance in these populations involves reduced respiration rates. Sixteen populations of T. castaneum, 15 of R. dominica, 27 of S. zeamais and eight of O. surinamensis were collected from 36 locations over seven Brazilian states. Each population was tested for resistance to phosphine, based on the response of adults to discriminating concentrations, according to FAO standard method. For each insect species, the production of carbon dioxide of the most resistant and of the most susceptible populations was inversely related to their phosphine resistance. The screening tests identified possible phosphine resistant populations. R. dominica and O. surinamensis were less susceptible to phosphine than the other two species. The populations with lower respiration rate showed a lower mortality at discriminating concentration, possibly related to a phosphine resistance mechanism. Phosphine resistance occurs in stored-product insects, in different regions of Brazil, and the resistance mechanism involves reduced respiration rate.Index terms: Oryzaephilus surinamensis, Rhyzopertha dominica, Sitophilus zeamais, Tribolium castaneum, fumigant resistance, respiration rate. Resistência de insetos de produtos armazenados à fosfinaResumo -Os objetivos deste trabalho foram avaliar a resistência à fosfina, em populações de insetos (Tribolium castaneum, Rhyzopertha dominica, Sitophilus zeamais e Oryzaephilus surinamensis), de diferentes regiões do Brasil, e verificar se o mecanismo predominante de resistência à fosfina, nessas populações, envolve a redução das taxas respiratórias. Dezesseis populações de T. castaneum, 15 de R. dominica, 27 de S. zeamais e oito de O. surinamensis foram coletadas em 36 locais de sete estados brasileiros. Cada população foi testada quanto à resistência à fosfina, com base na resposta dos adultos à concentração discriminante, de acordo com o método padrão da FAO. Para cada espécie de insetos, as produções de dióxido de carbono da população mais resistente e a da mais suscetível foram inversamente relacionadas à resistência à fosfina. Os testes de detecção identificaram possíveis populações resistentes à fosfina. R. dominica e O. surinamensis foram menos suscetíveis à fosfina do que as outras duas espécies. As populações com menor taxa respiratória apresentaram menor mortalidade à concentração discriminante, o que está possivelmente relacionado ao mecanismo de resistência à fosfina. A resistência à fosfina ocorre em insetos de produtos armazenados, em diferentes regiões do Brasil, e o mecanismo de resistência envolve a redução da taxa respiratória.Termos para indexação: Oryzaephilus surinamensis, Rhyzopertha dominica, Sitophilus zeamais, Tribolium castaneum, resistência a fumigante, taxa respiratória.

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Phosphine exposure decreased walking activity. Such reduced walking activity is likely to lower the respiration rate, thereby minimising phosphine uptake. As higher phosphine resistance was also associated with reduced walking activity, phosphine-resistant populations may resist phosphine fumigation even more efficiently on account of this behavioural trait, further aiding their physiological resistance, and should be a matter of concern.

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