Abstract:Biochemical and molecular mechanisms of pyrethroids resistance in diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L), from Nanjing, have been investigated in this study by enzyme assays of esterases (ESTs), glutathione S-transferases(GSTs)and microsomal multifunctional oxidase(MFO)and cloning and sequencing of sodium channel gene. The enzymatic activities of ESTs and MFO were 1.06 and 1.16 folds higher in Nanjing resistant population than that in susceptible population. With CDNB and DCNB being substrate, the enzymatic activity of GSTs were 0.68 folds lower and 1.03 folds higher in Nanjing resistant population than that in susceptible population, respectively. With the usage of specific upstream and downstream primer, two fragments of 232 and 248bp in IIS6 region of para-type sodium channel were amplified from susceptible and resistant individual fourth instar larva, respectively. Analysis of the DNA sequences revealed that there is a kdr-associated conservative mutation (Leu to Phe) in the sodium channel gene of this pyrethroid-resistant diamondback moth population, suggesting that nerve insensitivity was the principal mechanism of pyrethroids resistance in diamondback moth from Nanjing.