Agricultural Statistics Service, 2019 ). Whiteflies (Aleyrodidae), particularly sweetpotato whitefly ( Bemisia tabaci ), are the most economically important arthropod pests of poinsettia ( Martin and Mound, 2007 ; Perring et al., 2018 ). Their presence is
The sweetpotato whitefly has been reported in Florida since the late 1800s, but has only been considered a pest since 1986 when poinsettia ( Euphorbia pulcherrima ) growers began experiencing crop-damaging infestations ( Hamon and Salguero, 1987
about 100 sweetpotato whitefly adults were released. Ten cucumber seedlings were grown under FLs and MLs following the same method previously described to measure morphologic impacts of the light source. The relative chlorophyll content was evaluated
Summer squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) plants were grown in pots with high (290% capacity) or low (45% to 70% of capacity) soil moisture. The plants were exposed or not exposed to sweetpotato whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci Genn.). Only the plants exposed to whiteflies developed leaf silvering. Silvering was more severe in plants subjected to low soil moisture.
Confined-leaf tests in a greenhouse showed Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standley plant introduction (PI) 442369 was as susceptible to sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci Gennadius, oviposition as Cucumis melo L., Cucurbita ecuadorensis Cutler and Whitaker, and Cucurbita lundelliana Bailey, whereas L. siceraria accessions PI 419090, PI 419215, PI 432341, and PI 432342 were resistant. Resistance rankings of L. siceraria accessions based on adult counts in greenhouse and field tests were similar. Adult entrapment among trichomes was highest on adaxial leaf surfaces of L. siceraria PI 419090. Abaxial leaf trichome density was 48.7/mm on sweetpotato whitefly-resistant L. siceraria PI 432342, 42.1/mm2 on Cucurbita lundelliana PI 540895, and ranged from 51.0 to 85.5/mm2 on Cucurbita ecuadorensis PI 540896. Leaf trichome densities of selected plants of four L. siceraria accessions ranged from 33.0 to 52/mm2 on the abaxial and from 6.3 to 20.8/mm2 on the adaxial surface. Scanning electron micrographs of the abaxial leaf surface, the preferred surface for oviposition, suggest that trichome configuration (density and arrangement of different lengths) could be a factor in reduction of whitefly oviposition on L. siceraria.
Accessions of both domesticated and wild Cucurbita spp. were tested from Jan. to May 1996 in Isabela, Puerto Rico, for resistance to silverleaf and sweetpotato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci). None of the accessions tested were completely free of whiteflies, but some accessions were completely free of silverleaf. At 8 weeks, checks of `Soler' and `Butternut' had silverleaf ratings of 4.5 and 0.0, respectively (on a 0 to 5 scale, where 0 = no silverleaf). Both checks were highly infected with whiteflies. Wild Cucurbitas do not appear to be a good source of whitefly or silverleaf resistance. While no strong correlations were observed between number of whiteflies and degree of silvering, all plants that were highly silvered were also heavily infested with whiteflies. Some plants with little or no silverleaf had many fewer whiteflies. Plants from ≈40 accessions from a total of about 800 were selfed for further evaluation.
A new disorder of fruit has been observed on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) in Florida. The disorder, termed irregular ripening, was associated with field populations of the sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) and is characterized by incomplete ripening of longitudinal sections of fruit. An increase in internal white tissue also was associated with whitefly populations. In field cage studies, fruit on tomato plants not infested with the sweetpotato whitefly exhibited slight or no irregular ripening, whereas fruit from infested plants did. Fruit from plants on which a whitefly infestation had been controlled before the appearance of external symptoms exhibited reduced symptoms compared to fruit from plants on which an infestation was uncontrolled.
Sweetpotato whiteflies ( Bemisia tabaci ) have been reported in the southeastern United States since 1894. However, no economic impact on crops was associated with this pest until 1986, when significant infestations impacted ornamental plant
The sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), was associated with symptoms of a silverleaf disorder of acorn squash (Cucurbita pepo L. cvs. Table King Bush and Table Ace) in cage studies in the greenhouse. Symptoms appeared on uninfested leaves that developed after plants were infested with the whitefly. When the infested lower leaves were removed and the young leaves protected from infestation with insecticides, new growth was asymptomatic or nearly so and symptomatic leaves remained symptomatic. Symptom expression was related more to nymphal density than to adult density since the relationship between log nymph density and symptoms was linear when adult densities were equal.
Sweetpotato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Gennadius) is one of the serious pests on cucurbits and causes injury by sucking sap and by the transmission of virus. In Western Mexico, melon and other vegetable crops have been subjected to losses as a results of whitefly feeding and whitefly-transmitted virus infection. Traditional control is based in the Metamidophos and Endosulfan applications (more than 10 times). Recently, Imidacloprid has been reported as new alternative to whitefly control. Thus, this study was conducted to determine the effect of Imidacloprid under different applications methods on sweetpotato whitefly populations and cantaloupe yield. Ten treatments were evaluated: 1) seed + basal stem, 2) seed + soil at 8 cm, 3) seed + soil (near to seed), 4) seed + soil (seedlings emergence), 5) seed only, 6) basal stem, 7) soil (plant emerged), 8) foliage, 9) Metamidophos and Endosulfan (regional application), and 10) control, without application. These were arranged in a randomized complete-block design with four replications. Each replication had four beds 7.5 m long. Number of whitefly adults was determined weekly on 24 plants selected at random for each treatment (two leaves/plant). At 22, 39, 57, and 73 days after showing, the whitefly nymphs/cm2 were also counted. Imidacloprid applied to foliage five times showed the best whitefly control during the entire crop season, reducing injury and increasing melon yield at 1346.7 cartons/ha, while Metamidophos and Endosulfan showed an intermediate effect (1073.6 cartons/ha).