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Title: HISTORY, CURRENT STATUS AND COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH PROJECTS FOR BEMISIA TABACI

Author
item OLIVEIRA, MARIA - EMBRAPA, BRASILIA, BRAZIL
item ANDERSON, PAM - CIAT, CALI, COLUMBIA
item Henneberry, Thomas

Submitted to: Crop Protection
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/1/2001
Publication Date: 3/1/2001
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The worldwide pest status of sweetpotato whiteflies in food and fiber production stimulated the development of a symposium at the International Entomology Congress at Iguassu Falls, Brazil in 2000. Enclosed is a brief of an invitational address on sweetpotato whitefly history and current status. Sweetpotato whitefly has been recorded from more than 600 plant species. In the last decade, international transport of plant material and people have contributed to geographical spread. Different biotypes throughout the world suggest that the complex undergoing evolutionary change. Biotypes exhibit differences in viruses transmitted, transmission efficiency, rates of development, endosymbionts, host utilization, and physiological host damage. Losses occur from plant diseases caused by sweetpotato whitefly transmitted viruses, direct feeding damage, plant physiological disorders, and honeydew contamination and associated fungal growth. The number of transmitted plant viruses has increased, and total yield losses of important food and industrial crops has occurred. Control is dependent on insecticides, but selective chemistries, action thresholds, and resistance management have prevented environmental problems. Plant resistance, cultural and biological methods are being developed. National and international collaboration has improved characterization of the whitefly problem, increased research, developed management methods, transferred technology to the agricultural communities, and stimulated information exchange.

Technical Abstract: Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) was described over 100 years ago and has since become one of the most important pests worldwide in subtropical and tropical agriculture as well as in greenhouse production systems. In the last decade, international transport of plant material and people have contributed to geographical spread. B. tabaci has been recorded from more than 600 plant. Biotypes in different areas of the world suggest that B. tabaci may be a species-complex. The biotypes exhibit differences in viruses transmitted and transmission efficiency, rates of development, endosymbionts, host utilization, and physiological host damage. Excessive B. tabaci induced crop losses occur worldwide. Losses occur from plant diseases caused by B. tabaci transmitted viruses, direct feeding damage, plant physiological disorders, and honeydew contamination and associated fungal growth. The number of B. tabaci-transmitted plant viruses has increased, and total yield losses of important food and industrial crops has occurred. Effective control at present is dependent on insecticides. However, this has been achieved with more selective chemistries, use of action thresholds, and resistance management. Host plant resistance and various cultural methods are also components of developing integrated management systems. National and international collaborative projects have made significant progress towards improved characterization of the whitefly problem, increased research, development of management methods, transfer of technology to the agricultural communities, and information exchange. These projects, as well as intensive education, research and extension activities form the basis for biologically and ecologically-based approaches to management.