The first standardized sampling plan designed to scout Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) adults in neotropical soybean crops

Abstract

Glycinemax (L) soybean (Merr) is the world's most widely produced and consumed oilseed. Since its establishment in Brazilian fields, the sweetpotato whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius 1899) Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae became a notorious pest in soybean fields. However, there is not a sampling plan specifically designed to scout B. tabaci adults in tropical soybean crops. Hence, this study aimed to develop a standardized sampling plan for scouting B. tabaci adults in tropical agriculture. This study was conducted in commercial soybean fields in the Brazilian Savanah from 2017 to 2021, encompassing the vegetative, flowering, and fruiting stages. B. tabaci adults were evaluated to establish a conventional sampling plan, following a five-step approach: (i) determination of the appropriate sample unit, (ii) sampling technique evaluation, (iii) analysis of the frequency distribution of B. tabaci were evaluated to establish a conventional sampling plan, following a five-step approach density, (iv) calculation of the optimal number of samples, and (v) assessment of costs and sampling time. The apical part of the soybean canopy was the ideal sampling unit for assessing B. tabaci populations throughout the plant cycle. Beating the apical part of the plant against a plastic tray proved to be the most suitable sampling technique. A total of 49 samples per field were required to effectively scout this pest. The sample process lasted no more than 5 min per hectare, and the associated costs did not exceed US$ 0.74 per hectare. These results provide the first precise and representative standardized sampling plan to scout B. tabaci adults in tropical soybean fields.