HortScience (1992) 27, 1217-1221

A.N. Kishaba, S. Castle, J.D. McCreight and P.R. Desjardins (1992)
Resistance of white-flowered gourd to sweetpotato whitefly
HortScience 27 (11), 1217-1221
Abstract: 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/mm² 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.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Steven J. Castle

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

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Bemisia tabaci	Lagenaria (genus)