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Title: BEMISIA TABACI (HOMOPTERA: ALEYRODIDAE) B BIOTYPE: FACTORS AFFECTING LEAF HABITAT, OVIPOSITION, FEEDING SITE SELECTION, HOST FINDING AND HOST PREFERENCE.

Author
item CHU, CHANG CHI
item FREEMAN, THOMAS - NDSU, FARGO, ND
item BUCKNER, JAMES
item NELSON, DENNIS
item NATWICK, ERIC - COOP. EXT. HOLTVILLE, CA
item HENNEBERRY, THOMAS

Submitted to: Journal of the Agricultural Association of China
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2001
Publication Date: 2/1/2002
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Highly effective chemical control and insecticide-resistance management methodology have been major factors, along with new insecticide chemistries, that have contributed to reducing sweetpotato whitefly crop losses of unacceptable cotton, vegetables, and ornamentals in the southwestern United States. Looking to the future, alternative, environmentally oriented pest management strategies must be developed that are based on the sweetpotato whitefly biology and ecology and crop production methodology. Within this context, when successfully accomplished, host plant resistance is one of the most economical, social and environmentally acceptable insect population suppression approaches. In this report, we summarized our research results in the last decade on sweetpotato whitefly leaf surface habitat, oviposition, and feeding behavior involving leaf penetration and probing as well as host finding, host preference, and crop colonization. Our objectives have been to identify genetically mediated cotton plant traits that have potential for incorporation into commercially accepted cottons that resist sweetpotato whitefly infestations.

Technical Abstract: Incorporation of plant characteristics imparting resistance to sweetpotato whitefly (SPW) Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) B biotype attack appears to be a viable approach to population management. We have conducted a series of studies to identify mechanisms of resistance as guidelines for plant breeders and molecular biologists to consider. SPW eggs are laid between visible veins. Eggs are anchored in epidermal cells by insertion of pedicels into the leaf tissue. The pedicel is used as a conduit for uptake of water to prevent dehydration. First instar nymphs (crawlers) appear to randomly select sites for probing and feeding. Crawlers form salivary sheaths following penetration of abaxial leaf surfaces. The salivary sheath pathway is sinuous and often "dead ended". Distance of phloem tissue from the abaxial leaf surface and leaf thickness may be related to probing and feeding site selection of crawler and its survival as such may have potential as genetic traits for breeding cotton varieties resistant t SPW. Adult in-season flight activity, seasonal distribution, and dispersal appear to be partially related to air temperatures between 12 and 34 deg C. Visual identification such as leaf color and leaf shape may be factors in host finding and host preferences. Adult flight within the cotton canopy is generally directed toward higher plant nodes and younger leaves. These behavioral observations have been useful for developing an adult whitefly trap (CC trap), for monitoring SPW population density and dynamics, and in developing white reflective mulch strategies to reduce whitefly populations and insecticide use in broccoli production.