Spider mite genome sequence establishes tools to tackle pest resistance
(PhysOrg.com) -- The tiny two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae (only 0.3 mm in size) is a destructive worldwide pest that attacks more than 150 diverse crop plants, including tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, flowers, apples, pears, grapes, and soya. Among the most difficult pests to control, spider mites rapidly develop resistance to management pesticides. Last year, the genome sequencing of the two-spotted spider mite was deciphered in a project led by researchers at Western University. In a new study, Western biology professor Miodrag Grbic and an international research team have exploited this genomic resource to identify both the mode of action of a major mite pesticide, as well as how mites have evolved resistance to the pesticide in field populations. The findings are published this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.