Research interests

Insecticide resistance: molecular and biochemical basis and management within a mixed farming system incorporating cotton.  Primary focus on cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera.

Background

Louise joined NSW Agriculture* in 2002 as a professional officer based at the Australian Cotton Research Institute, Narrabri. In 2005 she became a research scientist, with her work focussing on insecticide resistance monitoring for Helicoverpa armigera and H. punctigera and associated mechanism research. As well as conducting insecticide resistance monitoring and formulating management tactics, she is currently investigating the molecular basis of esterase mediated resistance in H. armigera. As part of her role formulating resistance management strategies, she is a member of the TIMS troubleshooting committee, TIMS insecticide panel and TIMS Bt panel, all industry supported bodies involved in resistance management in cotton.

*NSW Department of Primary Industries was formed on July 1, 2004 through an amalgamation of NSW Agriculture, NSW Fisheries, State Forests of NSW and the NSW Department of Mineral Resources.

Qualifications

• BScAgr (Class 1 Honours): University of Sydney, 1996
• PhD University of Sydney 2000

Current projects

DAN 196: ‘Helicoverpa insecticide resistance: monitoring, management and biochemical/molecular research’

supported by:

DAN00121: ‘Helicoverpa insecticide resistance: monitoring, mechanisms and management II’.

Select Publications

Andow DA, Fitt GP, Grafius EJ, Jackson RE, Radcliffe EB, Ragsdale DW and Rossiter L (2008) Pesticide and Transgenic Plant Resistance Management in the Field. In M.E. Whalon, D. Mota-Sanchez and R.M. Hollingworth (Eds) 'Global Pesticide Resistance in Arthropods’. CAB International.

Scott LJ, Lawrence N, Lange CL, Graham GC, Hardwick S, Rossiter L, Dillon ML, Scott KD (2006). Population dynamics and gene flow of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on cotton and grain crops in the Murrumbidgee Valley, Australia. J. Econ. Entomol: 99 (1): 155-163

Ding Y, Ortelli F, Rossiter LC, Hemingway J and Ranson H (2003) The Anopheles gambiae GST supergene family: annotation, expression profiles and phylogeny. BMC Genomics 4: 35

Ortelli F, Rossiter LC, Vontas J, Ranson HA and Hemingway J (2003) Heterologous expression of four glutathione transferase genes genetically linked to a major insecticide-resistance locus from the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae. Biochem. J. 373: 957-963

Ranson H, Rossiter L, Ortelli F, Jensen B, Wang X, Roth CW, Collins FH and Hemingway J (2001) Identification of a novel class of insect glutathione S-transferases involved in DDT resistance in the malaria vector, Anopheles gambiae. Biochem. J. 359: 295–304.

Rossiter LC, Gunning RV and Rose HA (2001) The use of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for the investigation and detection of fenitrothion and chlorpyrifos-methyl resistance in Oryzaephilus surinamensis (Coleoptera: Silvanidae). Pestic. Biochem. Physiol. 69: 27-34.

Rossiter LC, Conyers CM, MacNicoll AD and Rose HA (2001) Two qualitatively different B-esterases from two organophosphate resistant strains of Oryzaephilus surinamensis (Coleoptera: Silvanidae) and their roles in fenitrothion and chlorpyrifos-methyl resistance. Pestic. Biochem. Physiol. 69: 118-130.

Professional associations and activities

• Member of the Australian Entomological Society
• Adjunct Lecturer, UNE Armidale

Fields of Research

070308 Crop and Pasture Protection (Pests, Diseases and Weeds)

Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)

Keyword/phrase list of research interests

• Entomology
• Pest Management
• Insecticide resistance