From target site to metabolism: genome-wide insights into pyrethroid resistance in Helicoverpa armigera

Helicoverpa armigera, a globally distributed polyphagous pest, has shown remarkable adaptability to chemical control, with pyrethroid resistance first reported in the 1980s. Early studies focused mainly on target-site mutations in the sodium channel. Attention then shifted to detoxification pathways possibly mediated by cytochrome P450 monooxygenases, carboxylesterases, and glutathione-S-transferases. Identification of specific enzymes responsible for pyrethroid detoxification was then facilitated through linkage analysis and expression studies. Population genomic approaches have documented the spread of the resistance-conferring CYP337B3 gene in global populations of H. armigera and even introgression into its New World relative, H. zea. The global spread of resistance alleles such as CYP337B3 underscores the importance of coordinated surveillance and real-time data sharing. Tracing the historical trajectory of resistance research and integrating the latest genomic insights, this review emphasizes the need to embed genomic diagnostics into pest management and strengthen international collaboration for sustainable pyrethroid resistance management in H. armigera.