Investigating <i>Plutella xylostella</i> Resistance to Insecticides: Sensitivity Shifts to Cypermethrin, Profenofos, and Acetamiprid

The Diamondback Moth, <i>Plutella xylostella</i> (L.), is a notorious pest posing a substantial threat to global agriculture due to high resistance to conventional insecticides. Some P450 related enzymes are responsible to help the Diamondback Moth to metabolize and neutralize pesticides, contributing to the resistance problem. Our study aimed to understand the expression of the cytochrome P450 genes in response to Cypermethrin, Profenofos, and Acetamiprid. The<i> P. xylostella</i> larvae were collected from three different locations, representing varying resistance histories, and subjected them to controlled laboratory conditions for insecticide susceptibility and gene expression analysis. Expression levels of three genes –CYP321E1, CYP4M22, and CYP9G2- involved in the resistance in response to insecticide exposure were investigated. The analysis revealed significant variations in the gene expression patterns among the different populations and across the insecticides tested. The CYP4M22 gene displayed significant different expression patterns depending on the specific insecticide and population. The CYP321E1 and CYP9G2 genes also showed increased expression levels with prolonged exposure to the insecticides, indicating a potential adaptive mechanism for metabolizing pesticides. These findings emphasized the complex nature of insecticide resistance and suggested that gene expression patterns can differ significantly across populations, reflecting the unique evolutionary pressures in each environment.