Development of highly sensitive assays for detection of genetic variation in key Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus genes

► DGGE assays were developed for detection of genetic variation in HearNPV. ► Assays were developed for the dbp1, DNA polymerase, and me53 genes of HearNPV. ► Assays produced fingerprints of the genetic variants in HearNPV populations. ► The assays enabled differentiation between different HearNPV isolates. ► The DGGE assays will be useful for studying genetic variation within HearNPV.