Tetranychus urticae or the Two-Spotted Spider Mite (TSSM) is the most economically devastating herbivore mite pest worldwide. It is able to feed on hundreds of different plant crop species. Though having a very small genome, it has highly expanded metabolic gene families which enable it to digest a variety of xeno-chemicals: be it plant secondary metabolites or pesticides. Its short generation time and reproductive characteristics add to its ability to develop pesticide resistance at a remarkable rate.
In our lab, we study several aspects of those abilities:
We survey TSSM samples from all over Israel, with the help of Israeli ministry of agriculture's extension services, collecting TSSM samples where and whenever an outburst is reported. Those are tested for resistance to over 10 different pesticides.
Life history tables, reproductive behaviour and fitness of selected susceptible and resistant field-collected populations is studied.
Known markers to different pesticides are tested.