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Title: EFFECTS OF ANTIBACTERIAL MATERIALS ON BEMISIA ARGENTIFOLII (HOMOPTERA: ALEYRODIDAE) OVIPOSITION, GROWTH, SURVIVAL, AND SEX RATIO

Author
item COSTA, HEATHER - UNIV OF CA, RIVERSIDE, CA
item HENNEBERRY, THOMAS
item TOSCANO, NICK - UNIV OF CA, RIVERSIDE, CA

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Whiteflies contain endosymbiotic organisms that are essential for their development and reproduction. Reduction or elimination of endosymbiotic organisms in insects by antibiotic therapy results in reduced insect growth, death, or lack of reproduction. We investigated the effects of various antibiotics, with different ranges of activity and modes of action, ,on whitefly oviposition rate, growth, survival, emergence as adults, and sex ratio. Materials tested had significant negative effects on growth and development of whiteflies interfere with bacterial protein syntesis. Materials that primarily attack bacterial cell walls or cell membranes did not have any significant effects on growth and development. Treatments with antibacterial materials had no significant effect on oviposition rates of adults or sex ratio of offspring.

Technical Abstract: Whiteflies and other homopteran insects contain endosymbiotic organisms that are essential for their development and reproduction. Reduction or elimination of endosymbiotic organisms in insects by antibiotic therapy results in reduced insect growth, death, or lack of reproduction. Endosymbionts provide a potential target for insect control with systemic antibacterial materials, or transgenic plants that produce antibacterial proteins. We investigated the effects of various antibiotics, with different ranges of activity and modes of action, on the whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring oviposition rate, growth, survival, emergence as adults, and sex ratio. Materials tested were oxytetracycline hydrochloride, rifampicin, penicilllin, ampicillin, lysozyme, and chloramphenicol. Method of application showed similar effects on adults or nymphs. Materials tested had significant negative effects on growth and development of whiteflies interfere with bacterial protein syntesis. Materials that primarily attack bacterial cell walls or cell membranes did not have any significant effects on growth and development. Treatments with antibacterial materials had no significant effect on oviposition rates of adults or sex ratio of offspring. Delays in development, and reduction in percentage of offspring emerging as adults provide ample evidence that antibacterial materials have potential role in management strategies against both adult and immature stages of whiteflies.