Abstract

Abstract Research was conducted on the production potential of selected medicinal herbal plant species as new crops suitable for cultivation in South Carolina. Whiteflies (Bemisia argentifolii Bellows & Perring) were found in an experimental production field infesting five perennial species of medicinal herbal plants [feverfew, Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Schultz-Bipontinus; St. John’s wort, Hypericum perforatum L.; purple coneflower, Echinacea pallida (Nuttall) Nuttall and E. purpurea (L.) Moench; and common valerian, Valeriana officinalis L.]. This article reports on whiteflies attacking and developing on these plant species. Density of whitefly nymphs was highest (mean = 2.3/cm2) on the second fully expanded leaf on the apical meristem of E. purpurea as compared with the same leaf position on the other plant species where average whitefly density ranged from 0.1 to 0.6 nymphs per square centimeter from late November 1998 through January 1999. Similarly, adult capture on sticky cards was high (mean = 123 ...

Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call