The role of cytochrome P450 monooxygenase in pyrethroid resistance was studied in different strains of the cotton bollworm,
Helicoverpa armigera, from India. Filed collected strains of Nagpur and Delhi were compared to the laboratory reared population. The results
showed a high resistance to deltamethrin, α-cypermethrin, and β-cyfluthrin. The results also showed that this resistance could be reduced
by using piperonyl butoxide (PBO). The Nagpur and Delhi strains were found to have a 2.40 and 1.79 fold higher monooxygenase
activity compared to a susceptible strain. A strong, positive correlation between monooxygenase activity and pyrethroid resistance was
observed (r = 0.86 – 0.98). The relative expression of the housekeeping gene, EF-1α, and three P450 genes, was studied in the 5th instar
larval midgut of the three strains. Out of the three P450 genes examined, expression of CYP6B7 mRNA was not detected in the midgut of
the susceptible strain though it was highly expressed in the resistant strains. The midgut of the Nagpur strain had a 2.60 fold overexpression
of CYP6B7 mRNA compared to the moderately resistant, Delhi strain. The mRNA of CYP4G8 and CYP6B2 were not overexpressed
in either the Nagpur or Delhi strain. The results indicated that the elevated cytochrome P450 monooxygenase activity is associated with
pyrethroid resistance in Indian strains of H. armigera, and CYP6B7 could be the P450 form responsible for pyrethroid resistance.