• HSP70 and SAPK/JNK are stress related genes in the cabbage aphid. • Significant up-regulation of HSP70 gene expression occurs in aphids feeding on sulfuric acid-treated plants. • HSP70 gene was not regulated in aphids feeding on salicylic acid-treated plants. • Quantification of SAPK/JNK gene showed a significant effect in aphids feeding on SA-primed plants. Investigating the interaction between insect pests and host plants at molecular level, provides an insight for effective implementation of plant resistance-based strategies in insect pest control programs. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are found in all living organisms which protect them from biotic and abiotic stresses. Stress-activated protein kinases ( SAPKs ) are members of MPK kinases which also are activated upon cellular stresses. We investigated the effect of seed-primed canola plants with salicylic acid (SA) and the plants treated with dilute sulfuric acid on the regulation of two stress-related genes, HSP70 and SAPK/JNK genes in the cabbage aphid. The results of qRT-PCR revealed a statistically significant up-regulation of HSP70 gene expression in aphids feeding on sulfuric acid-treated plants in comparison with controls (P < 0.01). However, this gene was not regulated in aphids feeding on salicylic acid-treated plants. In addition, quantification of SAPK/JNK gene showed a significant effect in aphids feeding on SA-primed plants (P < 0.05) and a marginally significant effect in sulfuric acid treatment. Further, the expression of both genes were significantly changed in interaction effect between SA and sulfuric acid treatments. Finally, the induction of HSP70 and SAPK/JNK genes in this research might be related to activation of systemic acquired resistance in canola.