Journal Article

The genetic architecture of resistance to flubendiamide insecticide in Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner)

Montejo-Kovacevich, Gabriela, Koch, Eva L., Garcia, Antonio A. F., Corrêa, Alberto S., Araújo, Wellingson A., North, Henry L., Jiggins, Chris D., Omoto, Celso, Amado, Douglas, Cordeiro, Erick M. G., Heckel, David G.

2025

Overview

Insecticide resistance is a major problem in food production, environmental sustainability, and human health. The cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera is a globally distributed crop pest affecting over 300 crop species. H. armigera has rapidly evolved insecticide resistance, making it one of the most damaging pests worldwide. Understanding the genetic basis of insecticide resistance provides insights to develop tools, such as molecular markers, that can be used to slow or prevent the evolution of resistance. We explore the genetic architecture of H. armigera resistance to a widely used insecticide, flubendiamide, using two complementary approaches: genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in wild-caught samples and quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping in a controlled cross of susceptible and resistant laboratory strains. Both approaches identified one locus on chromosome 2, revealing two SNPs within 976 bp that can be used to monitor field resistance to flubendiamide. This was the only region identified using linkage mapping, though GWAS revealed additional sites associated with resistance. Other loci identified by GWAS in field populations contained known insecticide detoxification genes from the ATP-binding cassette family, ABCA1, ABCA3, ABCF2 and MDR1. Our findings revealed an oligogenic genetic architecture, contrasting previous reports of monogenic resistance associated with the ryanodine receptor . This work elucidates the genetic basis of rapidly evolving insecticide resistance and will contribute to developing effective insecticide resistance management strategies.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: ABCA1 protein / Agricultural pests / Animals / ATP-binding protein / Benzamides - pharmacology / Bioassays / Biology and Life Sciences / Chromosome 2 / Chromosome Mapping / Corn earworm / Cotton / Detoxification / Entomology / Environmental protection / Environmental sustainability / Evolution / Fluorocarbons / Food production / Gene mapping / Genes / Genetic aspects / Genome-wide association studies / Genome-Wide Association Study / Genomes / Genomics / Helicoverpa armigera / Heliothis / Insecticide resistance / Insecticide Resistance - genetics / Insecticides / Insecticides - pharmacology / Laboratories / Mapping / MDR1 protein / Mortality / Moths - drug effects / Moths - genetics / Mutation / Pesticide resistance / Pests / Phthalimides / Physiological aspects / Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Quantitative genetics / Quantitative Trait Loci / Research and Analysis Methods / Single-nucleotide polymorphism / Strategic planning (Business) / Sulfones - pharmacology