Ecofriendly synergists for insecticide formulations (EcoSyn)

EcoSyn consists of a consortium of experts to optimise the use of synergists in agriculture and public health by elucidating the relationship between synergist chemical structure and activity on a variety of target insect metabolic enzymes: this will enhance the efficacy of insecticides against resistant and susceptible pest insects in both laboratory and field environments. Repeated use of synthetic insecticides has resulted in the development of insecticide resistance; inhibition of insect defence enzymes by synergists would allow increased kill of resistant pests and control of susceptible pests with reduced insecticidal rates. EcoSyn has characterised interactions of novel synergists based on PBO (piperonyl butoxide) against known resistance-conferring P450/esterase proteins by both in vitro and in vivo assays. Candidate synergists have also been tested against pollinators and in long-term selection experiments to investigate changes in insect pest transcriptome