Changes in DNA methylation are associated with loss of insecticide resistance in the peach‐potato aphid Myzus persicae (Sulz.)

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Abstract
Insecticide resistance in peach‐potato aphids arises from the overproduction of one of two very closely related esterases (E4 or FE4) that detoxify insecticidal esters, and this is associated with amplification of E4‐related DNA sequences. Some highly resistant aphid clones can spontaneously lose their elevated esterase and hence their resistant phenotype. We report here that such aphids also lose their elevated E4 mRNA whilst retaining their amplified genomic sequences. We have also shown that the amplified E4‐related sequences are highly methylated at MspI sites in all resistant aphid clones examined, but not in those that have lost resistance.