Imidacloprid impedes mitochondrial function and induces oxidative stress in cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera larvae (Hubner: Noctuidae)

Neonicotinoids have high agonistic affinity to insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) and are frequently used as insecticides against most devastating lepidopteran insect pests. Imidacloprid influenced dose-dependent decline in the state III and IV respiration, respiration control index (RCI), and P/O ratios, in vitro and in vivo. The bioassay indicated its LD50 value to be 531.24 μM. The insecticide exhibited a dose-dependent...