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Title: BEMISIA TABACI (HOMOPTERA: ALEYRODIDAE) BIOTYPE B COLONIZATION ON OKRA- AND NORMAL-LEAF UPLAND COTTON STRAINS AND CULTIVARS

Author
item CHU, CHANG CHI
item NATWICK, ERIC - COOPER RES HOLTVILLE, CA
item HENNEBERRY, THOMAS

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/3/2002
Publication Date: 8/1/2002
Citation: CHU, C., NATWICK, E.T., HENNEBERRY, T.J. BEMISIA TABACI (HOMOPTERA: ALEYRODIDAE) BIOTYPE B COLONIZATION ON OKRA-AND NORMAL-LEAF UPLAND COTTON STRAINS AND CULTIVARS. JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY. 2002. Vol. 95. no. 4 pp. 733-738

Interpretive Summary: We have studied relationships of silverleaf whitefly infestation and cotton plant morphology since 1992. From 1996 to 2000, we compared 17 okra-leaf and 20 normal-leaf upland cotton varieties at Holtville, CA and Maricopa, AZ. Results showed that okra-leaf varieties as a group were infested with fewer whiteflies compared with normal-leaf varieties. In addition, Siokra L-23 was consistently infested with fewer whiteflies compared with other okra-leaf varieties, indicating that it may have genetic traits useful for breeding cottons resistant to silverleaf whiteflies.

Technical Abstract: We compared smooth-leaf okra- and normal-leaf upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) strains and cultivars for susceptibility to colonization by Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) biotype B. Experiments were conducted at seven field sites, five at Holtville, CA and two at Maricopa, AZ during 1996 to 2000. Okra-leaf strains and cultivars, as a group, had fewer numbers of adults, eggs, and nymphs compared to normal-leaf strains and cultivars indicating the potential of okra-leaf genetic traits for reducing colonization by B. tabaci. Results also suggest that okra-leaf shape may provide less favorable micro-environmental conditions for the habitat of B. tabaci because of more open canopy as evidenced by higher leaf perimeter to leaf area ratio. The okra-leaf cultivar Siokra L-23 appears to have genetic traits that should be examined further as a source of B. tabaci resistance.