Incidence of Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Aleyrodidae, Aleyrodinae) in four Atlantic Forest fragments

Thiago Dias Trindade,Henrique Trevisan,Acácio Geraldo De Carvalho

doi:10.1590/1808-1657000942017

Thiago Dias Trindade, Henrique Trevisan + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1808-1657000942017

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Abstract

ABSTRACT: Bemisia tabaci has been known in Brazil since 1923, in cotton, soybean, tomato and bean crops, and it leads to economic losses due to the transmission of different viruses. Studies focused on analyzing the incidence of this pest in forest environments remain scarce in the literature. Thus, the aims of the current study were to investigate the incidence of B. tabaci in four Atlantic forest fragments in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, as well as to record its hosts in these environments. An area of approximately one hectare was delimited for each Atlantic forest fragment based on images provided by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). Plants presenting whiteflies were tagged throughout monthly inspections conducted in each forest fragment in order to be checked during the following visits. Collection criteria were adopted to assure sampling standardization in each fragment. The mean number of whiteflies was analyzed through the Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric test, which was followed by Dunn’s post-hoc test, both at 5% significance level. The total of 216 collections were conducted and 1,126 B. tabaci fourth-instar nymphs were collected in four Atlantic forest fragments over 24 months. The following hosts were recorded for the first time: Caesalpinia pluviosa Benth, Tradescantia zebrina Linn., Impatiens walleriana Linn., Cupania sp. and Talisia esculenta Klotzsch & O. Berg. The dry period (winter) enabled the increase of B. tabaci populations in the herein investigated forest fragments.

Highlights

Bemisia tabaci was first described as Aleyrodes tabaci on tobacco leaves in Greece
There was intense biotype B colonization in several plants grown in São Paulo State, Brazil, and this whitefly species gradually spread to several states (LOURENÇÃO; NAGAI 1994)
B. tabaci comprises more than 40 cryptic species (ELFEKIH et al, 2018; DE MARCHI et al, 2018); four of them were reported in Brazil, so far (DA FONSECA et al, 2015; MARUBAYASHI et al, 2013; DE MARCHI et al, 2018)

Summary

Introduction

Bemisia tabaci was first described as Aleyrodes tabaci on tobacco leaves in Greece. Additional 18 species were described until 1957, when specialists decided that there was a single taxon — B. tabaci. According to COSTA et al (1975), this whitefly species has been known in Brazil since 1923. Nowadays, it is reported in cotton, soybean, tomato and bean crops, among others, besides causing significant economic losses due to transmission of different viruses (BARBOSA et al, 2011; OLIVEIRA et al, 2013; DE MARCHI et al, 2018). BELLOWS JUNIOR et al (1994) initially classified the biotype B as a new species — Bemisia argentifolii —, based on its smaller thoracic tracheal openings, on the smaller and more delicate wax filament, on the incidence of submarginal seta ASMS4, as well as on the nature of damages it caused to host plants. B. tabaci comprises more than 40 cryptic species (ELFEKIH et al, 2018; DE MARCHI et al, 2018); four of them were reported in Brazil, so far (DA FONSECA et al, 2015; MARUBAYASHI et al, 2013; DE MARCHI et al, 2018)

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