Molecular characterization of the insecticide resistant Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) larvae was done by cytochrome oxidase I (CO-I) primer. Based on the multiple nucleotide sequence alignment of cytochrome oxidase I (CO-I) region, the larval samples were divided in to three haplotypes. Haplotype I: A1 Cyper selected –MBNR; A2 Metho selected-MBNR; A3 Spino selected- MBNR; A4 Indo selected – MBNR and B1 Cyper selected –Raichur. Haplotype II: C1 Cyper selected- Nagpur; C2 Metho selected-Nagpur; C3 Spino selected- Nagpur; C4 Indo selected- Nagpur. Haplotype III: B2 Metho selected-Raichur; B3 Spino selected-Raichur and B4 Indoselected-Raichur. Development of resistance by H. armigera to insecticides, the high cost of insect control, environmental concerns, legal restrictions on the use of chemicals and frequent outburst of Helicoverpa suggest that efforts are now needed to understand the molecular diversity leading to identification of virulent biotypes, understanding molecular basis of insecticide resistance and to formulate management strategies accordingly.

Helicoverpa armigera, Insecticide Resistance, Molecular characterization, CO-I, Haplotypes.

Molecular characterization by different molecular techniques allows us to study geographic structure, genetic similarities and population variations among different populations. Cytochrome oxidase I (CO-I) region of mt DNA is the most studied region of the insect mitochondrial genome. Sequencing of this CO-I region is used to study the intra specific, inter specific and any minute variations at genomic level in insects. In the present study three populations viz., Mahaboobnagar, Raichur, Nagpur populations of insecticide resistant H. armigera are characterized by using CO-I sequencing.

Upendhar S., Vani Sree K. and Chinna Babu Naik V. (2022). Molecular Characterization of South Indian Insecticide Resistant H. armigera (Hubner). Biological Forum – An International Journal, 14(2): 638-644.