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Title: IN SITU STUDIES OF WHITEFLY FEEDING BIOLOGY

Author
item COHEN, ALLEN
item FREEMAN, TOM - NDSU, FARGO, ND
item CHU, CHANG CHI
item HENNEBERRY, THOMAS
item BUCKNER, JAMES
item NELSON, DENNIS
item VAIL, PATRICK

Submitted to: Silverleaf Whitefly: 1997 Supplement to the Five Year National Research and
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/1/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Electron microscopy studies of fractured leaves show that the feeding history is revealed in the patterns and structures of salivary sheaths produced by Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring. Feeding structures within the leaves were of two kinds: salivary sheaths or actual stylers found in only a few of the many sheaths that were examined. In hundreds of observations of sheath structures, we found that mesophyll cells (spongy parenchyma and palisade) were not penetrated by stylets. Instead, we found that sheaths followed contours of cells, sometimes anchoring to the mesophyll cells. The sheaths were often found to form multiple branches, each with a 1.5-2.0 micron diameter, as was the main trunk that gave rise to the branches. All termination sites of branched sheaths were found to be closed-off, except where actual stylets were found to be present. At least 90% of all in-plant sheath material was found to be in the air spaces that predominate the spongy parenchyma. The only sheath material found to be within the leaf's symplast was that which was found in the epidermal cells. We often found peculiar spheroid structures that seemed to be sheath material that was not properly formed into sheaths. The spheroid structures were most commonly found within the epidermal cells or immediately adjacent to them. These studies confirmed earlier studies with conventional light and confocal microscopy showing that B. argentifolii are not mesophyll feeders.