The Queensland Department of Primary Industries is currently investigating IRM techniques for heliothis in cotton and some vegetable crops.

The disruptive nature of many of the broad spectrum insecticides on which heliothis control relies on cotton limits the adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) programs, particularly where they place emphasis on

Australia's continued expansion in raw cotton production is directly dependent on the industry's ability to market its product to overseas buyers.

The cotton monocultural system in most of the production areas in Australia strongly discriminates against natural enemies and favours the development of pest outbreaks.

The sensitivity of genetic fingerprinting rests in the ability of the procedure to detect the rare or subtle differences that exist between the genes of one individual and another.