LAUSR

Simple Summary Xinjiang is the leading cotton producer in China, occupying a pivotal place in the national economy. At present, the primary control strategies for Helicoverpa armigera involve the cultivation of transgenic insect-resistant cotton. However, a multitude of investigations have indicated a mounting resistance in H. armigera populations against these genetically modified crops. Consequently, there is an immediate necessity to identify non-GMO cotton varieties with insect resistance for wider cultivation. The intricate relationship between herbivorous insects and their plant hosts has remained a vibrant subject of study. Nevertheless, research focusing on H. armigera’s feeding preferences across diverse cotton species, as well as on the influence of these cotton varieties on the insect’s growth, development, and reproductive processes, remains limited. This study employed five distinct cotton varieties, with the aim of identifying those that exhibit high resistance to H. armigera and have low appeal as a food source; this will not only facilitate the selection of insect-resistant cultivars, but may also provide a foundation for effective pest management strategies.