Evaluation of the preference of the sweet potato whitefly Bemisia tabaci   (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in five agricultural crops

Morales P, Cermeli M. 2001. Evaluation of the preference of the sweet potato whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in five agricultural crops. Entomotropica 16(2):73-78. The sweet potato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius, 1889)(Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) has caused severe damage in many crops worldwide. Due to the large list of susceptible plants, it is important to evaluate its preference for oviposition and nymphal development in crop plants. In this study observations were performed in a greenhouse on sesame (Sesamum indicum L.), field beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), cucumber (Cucumis pepo L.), cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L.) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), in a randomized block design with five treatments (crop) and four repetitions. The numbers of eggs and live and death nymphs per cm2 on the underside of the leaves in up to 14 leaves per plant, were counted four times. The higest number of eggs and live nymphs per cm2 were observed in tomato with 12.967 and 6.125 respectively, being statistically different from field beans (0.950 egg/cm2 and 0.869 nymphs/cm2) and cucumber (4.389 eggs/cm2 and 3.480 nymphs/cm2). The order of preference for oviposition and nymphal development was tomato>melon = sesame < cucumber = beans