author(s)
Nimisha T and Deepthy KB

abstract
Laboratory experiments were conducted in order to find out Variation in the activity of two major detoxification enzymes in cashew tea mosquito bug, Helopeltis antonii at Department of Agricultural Entomology, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur during 2016-2018. The main objective was to study the biochemical basis of the interaction between tea mosquito bug, Helopeltis antonii Signoret (Hemiptera: Miridae) and cashew (Anacardium occidentale). Tea mosquito bug adults collected at 0, 6, 24, 48 and 72 h after exposure to selected cahew varieties belongs to different susceptibility categories and analysis of detoxifying enzymes like cytochrome p450 monoxygenase and glutathione-s- transferase estimated as per the standard protocol. The results revealed that Defensive enzymes viz.,glutathione-s-transferases expressed elevated activity in TMB that fed on less susceptible Raghav (365.262 µmol min^-1mg^-1 protein) and Damodar (501.879 µmol min^-1mg^-1protein) when compared to the highly susceptible varieties. Cytochrome P450 showed highest activity in TMB fed on Damodar (0.372 nmol min^-1mg^-1 protein) and it was having the lowest activity in insect fed on other three varieties. The enhanced levels of detoxification enzymes in insect gives an indication of plasticity of the pest against host plant defense mechanism and same for management of the bug.