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Title: SUSCEPTIBILITY OF UPLAND COTTON CULTIVARS TO BEMISIA ARGENTIFOLII (HOMOPTERA: ALEYRODIDAE) IN RELATION TO LEAF AGE AND TRICHOME DENSITY

Author
item Chu, Chang Chi
item FREEMAN, THOMAS - NDSU, FARGO, ND
item Buckner, James
item Henneberry, Thomas
item Nelson, Dennis
item NATWICK, ERIC - UC COOP EXT, HOLTVILLE,CA

Submitted to: Annals of the Entomological Society of America
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/1/2001
Publication Date: 12/1/2001
Citation: Chu, C., Freeman, T.P., Buckner, J.S., Henneberry, T.J., Nelson, D.R., Natwick, E.T. Susceptibility of upland cotton cultivars to bemisia argentifolii (homoptera: aleyrodidae) in relation to leaf age and trichome density. Annals of the Entomological Society of America.94:743-749

Interpretive Summary: Hairy leaf cotton cultivars are more susceptible to silverleaf whitefly infestations compared to smooth leaf cultivars. Our studies in 1999 and 2000 of 13 upland cultivars supported this hypothesis. However, the youngest leaves on top of main stem terminals were hairier compared to older ones below but had fewer whiteflies. These findings indicate the complexity of leaf hair-whitefly density relationships that requires further studies.

Technical Abstract: The relationships between leaf trichome densities, leaf age, and silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) biotype B. infestations of 13 upland cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., cultivars were investigated in 1999 and 2000. Stoneville 474 supported higher numbers of B. tabaci eggs, nymphs and adults, and also had higher numbers of stellate trichomes on abaxial surfaces compared with nine other cotton cultivars. Siokra L-23 had fewer stellate trichomes and also fewer whiteflies. However, positive trichome- whitefly density relationships were affected by the age of leaves from different main stem cotton nodes. The youngest leaves on main stem node 1 below the terminal for all cultivars had higher numbers of stellate trichomes but fewer whiteflies compared to older leaves.