Arthropod-Plant Interactions (2016) 10, 293-301

M.E. Lorenzo, G. Grille, C. Basso and O. Bonato (2016)
Host preferences and biotic potential of Trialeurodes vaporariorum and Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in tomato and pepper
Arthropod-Plant Interactions 10 (4), 293-301
Abstract: Whiteflies Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) and Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) are important pests in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) crops in many countries. Contrary to what is observed for all other countries, in Uruguay, B. tabaci is mainly found on pepper and rarely on tomato, while T. vaporariorum is exclusively found on tomato. This study tested the oviposition preferences and biotic potential of these two whiteflies reared on both host plants. The developmental time, survival rates, longevity, fecundity and main population parameters were characterized. Both whitefly species showed different preference patterns regarding their host plants. T. vaporariorum preferred tomato instead of pepper to oviposit. Their developmental time is longer on pepper. B. tabaci preferred pepper, but the difference from tomato was not very strong. Pepper affects the biotic expression of T. vaporariorum negatively, while B. tabaci is able to develop equally on both host plants. These results show that the distribution differences of both whiteflies observed on both host plants could have a biological basis.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Cesar Basso, Olivier Bonato

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Trialeurodes vaporariorum	Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)	Uruguay
	Bemisia tabaci biotype MED	Green pepper/chilli (Capsicum)	Uruguay