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Title: APHIDS ASSOCIATED WITH PAPAYA PLANTS IN PUERTO RICO

Author
item PANTOJA, ALBERTO
item ROBLES, W - GRAD STUDENT U OF P.R.
item ABREU, E - DEPT. OF CROP PROTECTION
item PENA, J - UNIV. OF PUERTO RICO
item HALBERT, S - FL DEPT OF AGRICULTURE
item HERNANDEZ, E - COLEGRO POSTGRADOS, MEX.
item ORTZ, J - P.R. EXP STA

Submitted to: Entomology International Congress
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/14/2004
Publication Date: 7/15/2004
Citation: Pantoja, A., Robles, W., Abreu, E., Pena, J.E., Halbert, S., Hernandez, E., Ortz, J. 2004. Aphids associated with papaya plants in Puerto Rico. Entomology International Congress.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: In Puerto Rico, papaya (Carica papaya L) is the most extensively grown fruit. The crop is severely affected by the papaya ringspot virus (PRV), causing severe economic losses. With all the interest in the commercialization of papaya in Puerto Rico, there is a paucity of information on the vectors of the PRV in the island. Field trials were conducted at the Agricultural Experimental Station, University of Puerto Rico, Isabela and Corozal to identify aphids associated with papaya. Ten species of aphids were identified: Toxoptera citricida (Kirkardy), Toxoptera aurantii (Boyer de Fonscolombe), Pentalonia nigronervosa Coquerel, Tetraneura nigriabdominalis (Sasaki), Uroleucon ambrosiae (Thomas), Aphis spiraecola Patch, Aphis gossypii Glover, Aphis craccivora Koch, Aphis illinoisensis Shimer and Picturaphis sp. All species were present at Corozal, while only six species were collected from Isabela. The difference in species composition between localities is associated with the crops present in each location. Plantains and papaya are common in both localities; however commercial papaya plantings are common in Isabela, while plantains and citrus are predominat crops in Corozal. The presence of weeds in fields could be an important factor. The plantings at Corozal were almost weed free, while at Isabela weeds were common and abundant between papaya rows.