Abstract
Whiteflies are phytophagous insects, whose nymphs and adults suck the phloem sap, causing direct damage due to host plant weakness. In tomato (Lycopersicon spp.) crops, they are important vectors of limiting fitoviruses. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of Lycopersicon spp. genotypes on Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius, 1889) biotype B development under greenhouse conditions. The evaluated genotypes were LA462 (L. peruvianum), LA716 (L. pennellii), LA1584 (L. pimpinellifolium), LA1609 (L. peruvianum), LA1739 (L. hirsutum), P25 (L. esculentum), PI134417 (L. hirsutum f. glabratum) and Santa Clara (L. esculentum). LA716 was non-preferred for oviposition by the whitefly, which suggests an antixenotic effect. LA1584 showed an antibiotic resistance because nymphal survival was reduced and nymphal developmental time was increased. Antixenotic resistance was observed in LA1739 and PI134417, based on a reduction of oviposition. PI134417 also reduced nymphal survival, which suggests an antibiotic effect, but LA1739 was suitable for insect development. LA1609 was highly preferred for oviposition, however it reduced insect survival. P25 and Santa Clara (L. esculentum) were highly preferred for oviposition.
Highlights
The increasing importance of the whiteflies of the genus Bemisia has been associated to the introduction and widespread of the biotype B
Because of the characteristic infestations and damage severity, the presence of Bemisia tabaci biotype B in Brazil was suggested by the authors
The objective of the current study was to analyze the development of B. tabaci biotype B on eight tomato genotypes to determine if similar variability was present
Summary
The increasing importance of the whiteflies of the genus Bemisia has been associated to the introduction and widespread of the biotype B. This biotype differs from the biotype A due to its higher fecundity, wider host plant range, resistance to several insecticides and ability to promote plant physiological disorders, such as squash silverleaf (Brown et al, 1965; Costa & Brown, 1990; De Barro, 1995). In Brazil, Lourenção & Nagai (1994) found large populations of B. tabaci in the State of São Paulo, in vegetable and ornamental crops, associated with the symptoms of the squash silverleaf and the tomato irregular ripening.
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