Using refuge plants to manage resistance evolution and crop yield in agricultural fields

Agricultural pests developing resistance to pesticides is a major concern for farmers. To combat this issue, a refuge strategy has been implemented. This involves planting non-treated crops alongside pesticide-treated ones to encourage the growth of susceptible pests near treated crops. The idea is that this will allow susceptible pests to mate with resistant ones, diluting the resistance gene. However, there is limited understanding of how changes in selection pressure over time affect this strategy.

Researchers have used a model to study the impact of fluctuating selection pressure on resistance management. They found that altering the toxicity level and refuge frequency can be more effective than maintaining constant levels across generations. However, the effectiveness of these changes depends on specific population parameters.

The study reveals that the refuge strategy works best when the habitat preferences of the pests can evolve. But it also found that the mating preferences of pests can have both negative and positive effects.

The findings shed light on why the refuge strategy has been successful in the field. They also highlight the influence of resistance allele dominance and resistance costs on these observations. The researchers discuss their results in the context of partial protection against selective pressure and field resistance management.