Status of insecticide resistance in rice brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens Stal. – A review

The status of insecticide resistance in rice brown planthopper (BPH) Nilaparvata lugens (Stal) in major rice growing countries like Japan, China, Taiwan, Philippines and Malaysia and the meagre evidence available from India is presented in the review. In China and Taiwan, BPH developed resistance to isoprocarb, MTMC, carbaryl, carbofuran, malathion and monocrotophos and even to synthetic pyrethroids like permethrin and phenothrin. The resistant strains had higher carboxylesterases and decreased sensitivity of Acetylcholineesterase (AchE) than susceptible strain. In Japan, the insect developed resistance to fenthion, fenitrothion, cyanofenphos, malathion as well as many carbamate compounds. However, the degree of resistance was dependant on the origin of immigrants and extent of utilisation of these insecticides. In Philippines, the resistance against BPMC and MTMC was evident. The evidence available from India suggested that insecticide resistance in BPH from Godavari delta of Andhra Pradesh (A.P.) is in incipient stage. The importance of initiating more studies on this aspect in India is discussed.