Search

Nicotiana benthamiana, a widely acknowledged laboratory model plant for molecular studies, exhibits lethality to certain insect pests and can serve as a dead‐end trap plant for pest control in the field. However, the underlying mechanism of N. benthamiana's resistance against insects remains unknown. Here, we elucidate that the lethal effect of N. benthamiana on the whitefly Bemisia tabaci arises from the toxic glandular trichome exudates. By comparing the metabolite profiles of trichome exudates, we found that 51 metabolites, including five O‐acyl sugars (O‐AS) with medium‐chain acyl moieties, were highly accumulated in N. benthamiana. Silencing of two O‐AS biosynthesis genes, branched‐chain keto acid dehydrogenase (BCKD) and Isopropyl malate synthase‐C (IPMS‐C), significantly reduced the O‐AS levels in N. benthamiana and its resistance against whiteflies. Additionally, we demonstrated that the higher expression levels of BCKD and IPMS‐C in the trichomes of N. benthamiana contribute to O‐AS synthesis and consequently enhance whitefly resistance. Furthermore, overexpression of NbBCKD and NbIPMS‐C genes in the cultivated tobacco Nicotiana tabacum enhanced its resistance to whiteflies. Our study revealed the metabolic and molecular mechanisms underlying the lethal effect of N. benthamiana on whiteflies and presents a promising avenue for improving whitefly resistance. Summary statement: This work reveals the metabolic and molecular mechanisms underlying the lethal effect of Nicotiana benthamiana on whiteflies and provides a feasible strategy for improving crop resistance against pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rugose Spiralling Whitefly (RSW) (Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin; Aleurodidae: Hemiptera) began invading India in 2016 from Southern Peninsula, later expanded to several other states of the country. As a result, India now considers RSW to be a serious invasive insect pest on coconut. To understand its severity in Tamil Nadu, an extensive field survey was taken up, which revealed that the RSW abundance was in decreasing trend in Cauvery Delta Zone followed by Southern zone, High Rainfall zone and Western zone. The frond damage was lowest in Southern zone (Madurai, 14.43%) and statistically on par with Western zone (Coimbatore, 28.76%) whereas highest frond and leaflet damage was observed in Cauvery Delta zone (Pudukottai, 82.3 and 72.66% respectively). The aphelinid parasitoid, Encarsia guadeloupae Viggiani adult's emergence was high in Coimbatore district with a parasitization rate of 93.25 per cent. In morphometric studies, many morphological parameters measured in A. rugioperculatus adult male and female were high in Pudukkottai population. Score plot analysis of both sexes of A. rugioperculatus clearly showed that no biotype existed. The nucleotide sequence of RSW was deposited in GenBank as OP 295,073 which had > 98 per cent similarity with those DNA sequences submitted in NCBI database OP0295073, OP414609 and MK 883,219. Five years down the infestation of RSW on coconut, the severity has been reduced drastically with the subsequent buildup of the parasitoid E. guadeloupae. Thus conserving E. guadeloupae through the establishment of "banker plants" and refraining from insecticide spraying can effectively suppress RSW in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past decades, whitefly has occurred on a large scale in the main soybean producing areas of China, which seriously affecting soybean production. Thus, based on the 192 soybean natural populations genotyped by Illumina Soy6K SNP chip, genome-wide association study on soybean resistance to whitefly was performed by a mixed linear model. A total of 3 SNP loci significantly associated with soybean whitefly resistance were identified, including Gm07_36488859, Gm11_37409028 and Gm18_2054425. According to allelic effect analysis, gene annotation and expression, Glyma07g31470 and Glyma11g35670 were predicted as candidate genes regulating soybean resistance to whitefly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new genus and species of fossil whiteflies (Aleyrodidae) and a psyllid (Psyllidae) were discovered in the Hindon Maar Complex, a Fossil-Lagerstätte within the Dunedin Volcanic Group in Otago, South Island of New Zealand. These represent the first fossil records of these sternorrhynchan families (Hemiptera) from New Zealand. Miotetraleurodes novaezelandiae gen. et sp. nov., is described from specimens of puparia attached to angiosperm leaves. It is assigned to the subfamily Aleyrodinae and represents the first fossil whitefly from New Zealand and the third genus known from puparia globally. The forewing of a psyllid (Psyllidae: Hemiptera) was found in the same stratum, and represents the first fossil record of any fossil taxa of the superfamily Psylloidea in New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Plant Protection & Pathology is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) and the diseases they transmit are a major detriment to crop yields and a significant contributor to world hunger. The highly evolved interactions of host plant, phloem-feeding insect vector with endosymbionts and persistently transmitted virus represent a tremendous challenge for interdisciplinary study. Presented here is the establishment of a colony of axenic whiteflies on tissue-cultured plants. Efficient colony establishment was achieved by a surface sterilization of eggs laid on axenic phototrophically tissue-cultured plants. The transfer of emerging whiteflies through coupled tissue culture vessels to new axenic plants facilitates robust subculturing and produces hundreds of whitefly adults per month. Whitefly proliferation on more than two dozen plant species is shown as well as in vitro testing of whitefly preference for different plants. This novel multi-organism system provides the high-level of biocontainment required by Federal permitting to conduct virus transmission experiments. Axenic whitefly adults were able to acquire and transmit a begomovirus into tissue-cultured plants, indicating that culturable gut microorganisms are not required for virus transmission. The approach described enables a wide range of hypotheses regarding whitefly phytopathology without the expense, facilities, and contamination ambiguity associated with current approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the settling preferences and feeding behavior of the Bemisia tabaci whitefly on six cassava cultivars using electrical penetration graph techniques. Six distinct electrical penetration graph waveforms—non-probing, stylet pathway, phloem salivation, phloem ingestion, intracellular puncture, and xylem feeding—were identified and analyzed. Significant differences in the frequency and duration of these waveforms were observed among the cassava cultivars. The whiteflies spent the majority of their time in the non-probing phase, particularly on the Huaybong 80, Kasetsart 50, Rayong 9, and Rayong 72 cultivars. CMR-89 cultivar exhibited higher total probe durations in the phloem salivation and ingestion waveforms, suggesting a greater potential for transmission of the Sri Lankan cassava mosaic virus. The study also examined trichome density and size across the cassava cultivars, revealing that CMR-89 had the highest density and small trichomes, while Huaybong 80 had the lowest density. Trichome characteristics significantly impacted whitefly behavior: larger trichomes were negatively correlated with whitefly settling, whereas higher trichome density was positively correlated with longer settling durations. These findings indicate that trichome-based resistance mechanisms are crucial in whitefly deterrence. Overall, the results suggest that cultivars with lower trichome density and larger trichomes are more resistant to whitefly infestation and subsequent Sri Lankan cassava mosaic virus transmission. These insights are valuable for cassava breeding programs focused on enhancing pest resistance, highlighting the importance of trichome characteristics in developing more resilient cassava varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Begomoviruses are a major threat to cassava production in Africa. Indeed, during the 1990s, the emergence of a recombinant begomovirus (East African cassava mosaic virus-Uganda, EACMV-Ug) resulted in crop devastation and severe famine in Uganda. In 2023, during a pre-survey of cassava farms at Forécariah, South-West Guinea, 22 samples showing peculiar cassava mosaic disease (CMD) symptoms were collected, and subsequent laboratory analysis confirmed the presence of EACMV-Ug in the samples. Deep analysis of DNA-A and DNA-B of the EACMV-Ug isolates from Guinea indicated that they are similar to those associated with the severe CMD epidemic in Uganda in the 1990s. Therefore, a country-wide survey was conducted throughout Guinea in April 2024 to evaluate the extent of the spread of EACMV-Ug in the country and to collect critical CMD epidemiological data. Findings showed a high whitefly population in Lower Guinea averaging 17 per plant; however, the data suggest a spread of EACMV-Ug via infected cuttings. High CMD incidence was found in Lower Guinea and Forest Guinea, whereas the highest CMD severity was observed in Forest Guinea (2.70 ± 0.06) and the lowest CMD severity was found in Middle Guinea (2.20 ± 0.05). Several cases of double and triple infections involving African cassava mosaic virus, East African cassava mosaic virus, East African cassava mosaic Cameroon virus, and EACMV-Ug were observed. EACMV-Ug was detected throughout Guinea, as well as from samples collected in 2022 in Kambia (Sierra Leone). The 63 accessions cultivated in Guinea that were assessed in this study were found susceptible to at least one of the viruses cited above. This study alerts us to an alarming situation in development in West Africa and provides scientific evidence to guide the rapid response needed to contain and stop the progression of EACMV-Ug in West Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Insecticides and augmentative biological control employing the inundative release of natural enemies are strategies to obtain a rapid reduction in pest populations. Regardless of insecticide selectivity, the dominant outcome is the incompatibility between these two control approaches. The majority of natural enemies are also susceptible to insecticides, and a physiologically selective insecticide may feasibly integrate both methods. Resistant natural enemies are those that were once susceptible but have acquired physiological changes that confer resistance to insecticides analogous to pest species under insecticide pressure. As a result, natural enemies that are selected for resistance to common nonselective insecticides fall under the category of physiological selectivity. Insecticides from the pyrethroids group are primarily recommended for managing defoliating insect pest species, whereas the ladybird beetle Coccinellinae predominantly preys on aphids. This means that they control distinct pest categories in the agroecosystem. Reports also state that pyrethroid treatments cause outbreaks of sucking insect pests like aphids, whiteflies, and psyllids because they negatively impact their natural enemies, with a small impact on the sucking insect pest species. The presence of pyrethroid-resistant ladybird beetles is essential for integrating these two control methods. The conservation of the predatory ladybird beetle, Eriopis connexa (Germar) after its release also relies on its resistance and the performance of its progenies. When resistant individuals are released or evolve in the field through mating with susceptible pairs, we anticipate that they will generate a resistant progeny, inheriting the resistance to lambda-cyhalothrin through an autosomal mechanism. The susceptibility of a field-collected population (EcGA) was characterized and determined by the performance of their progenies generated through mating with a resistant parent (EcViR). We paired virgin adults from the EcGA and EcViR populations, observing how their progenies developed, reproduced, and survived when exposed to dried lambda-cyhalothrin residues applied at field rates. Adults from the EcGA population were ~200-fold more susceptible than those of the EcViR population. Developmental times from larva to adult emergence for EcGA individuals were delayed by approximately 6 days and generated smaller adults compared to EcViR and their progenies. The egg production did not differ across parents and progenies, but females from EcGA and EcGA × EcViR progenies produced 130 more eggs in comparison to EcViR females during the 35-day evaluation period. Exposure to lambda-cyhalothrin resulted in 77.4 to 100% survival for adults from EcViR × EcGA progenies and EcViR parents, while EcGA and the population standard for susceptibility maintained in the laboratory (EcFM) did not survive the insecticide exposure. These findings indicate that field crosses between EcViR and EcGA will improve their progenies' biological performance compared to the EcViR parents and will maintain a high lambda-cyhalothrin survival rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Elucidating fitness cost associated with field‐evolved insect resistance to insecticide is of particular importance to current sustainable pest control. The global pest whitefly Bemisia tabaci has developed resistance to many members of neonicotinoids, but little is known about whitefly resistance to neonicotinoid nitenpyram and its associated fitness cost. Using insecticide bioassay and life‐table approach, this study aims to investigate nitenpyram resistance status in field‐collected whitefly populations, and to explore whether such resistance is accompanied by a fitness cost. RESULTS: The bioassay results revealed that 14 of 29 whitefly populations displayed moderate to extremely high resistance to nitenpyram, demonstrating a widespread field‐evolved resistance to nitenpyram. This field‐evolved resistance in the whitefly has increased gradually over the past 3 years from 2021 to 2023. Further life‐table study showed that two resistant whitefly populations exhibited longer developmental time, shorter lifespans of adult, and lower fecundity compared with the most susceptible population. The relative fitness cost of the two resistant populations was calculated as 0.69 and 0.56 by using net productive rate R0, which suggests that nitenpyram resistance comes with fitness cost in the whitefly, especially on reproduction. CONCLUSION: Overall, these results represent field‐evolved high resistance to nitenpyram in the whitefly. The existing fitness costs associated with nitenpyram resistance are helpful to propose a suitable strategy for sustainable control of whiteflies by rotation or mixture of insecticide with different modes of action. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solanum whitefly, Aleurotrachelus trachoides (Back) and woolly whitefly, Aleurothrixus floccosus (Maskell) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) have invaded India. They are feeding on plants belonging to the Solanaceae, Apocynaceae, and Convolvulaceae families and on guava, respectively. As a result of their invasion, regular field surveys have been conducted to identify potential biological control agents and develop effective biocontrol strategies. During these surveys, an exotic parasitoid called Encarsia cubensis Gahan (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) was found to emerge on fourth instar nymphs of both A. trachoides and A. floccosus. The nymphs were collected from Duranta erecta L. and Solanum nigram L. in Karnataka, India and Psidium guajava L. in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, India. Identity of species was confirmed through their morphological and molecular characteristics. Partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 (CO1) gene sequences (PQ397536; PQ456730; PQ456728; PQ456729) demonstrated 98.41- 99.14% similarity with E. cubensis sequence (ON881119) submitted from India. This study confirms the first occurrence and establishment of E. cubensis on A. trachoides and A. floccosus in India. E. cubensis is a tiny, solitary endoparasitoid that primarily develops within the nymphal stages of these whiteflies, ultimately leading to its death. Across the surveyed locations, natural parasitism of 24.75–48.60% on A. trachoides and 04.14–15.67% on A. floccosus were recorded. Present study paved the way for natural pest regulation of A. floccosus and A. trachoides through augmentation and conservation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The cotton whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) is a major global pest, causing significant crop damage through viral infestation and feeding. Traditional B. tabaci recognition relies on human eyes, which requires a large amount of work and high labor costs. The pests overlapping generations, high reproductive capacity, small size, and migratory behavior present challenges for the real-time monitoring and early warning systems. This study aims to develop an efficient, high-throughput automated system for detection of the cotton whiteflies. In this work, a novel tool for cotton whitefly fast identification and quantification was developed based on deep learning-based model. This approach enhances the effectiveness of B. tabaci control by facilitating earlier detection of its establishment in cotton, thereby allowing for a quicker implementation of management strategies. Results: We compiled a dataset of 1200 annotated images of whiteflies on cotton leaves, augmented using techniques like flipping and rotation. We modified the YOLO v8s model by replacing the C2f module with the Swin-Transformer and introducing a P2 structure in the Head, achieving a precision of 0.87, mAP50 of 0.92, and F1 score of 0.88 through ablation studies. Additionally, we employed SAHI for image preprocessing and integrated the whitefly detection algorithm on a Raspberry Pi, and developed a GUI-based visual interface. Our preliminary analysis revealed a higher density of whiteflies on cotton leaves in the afternoon and the middle-top, middle, and middle-down plant sections. Conclusion: Utilizing the enhanced YOLO v8s deep learning model, we have achieved precise detection and counting of whiteflies, enabling its application on hardware devices like the Raspberry Pi. This approach is highly suitable for research requiring accurate quantification of cotton whiteflies, including phenotypic analyses. Future work will focus on deploying such equipment in large fields to manage whitefly infestations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One new genus Gregorites Drohojowska & Szwedo with seven new species of whiteflies (Aleyrodidae) from Eocene amber collected in Denmark are described. All new taxa: Gregorites aegiri, G. bergelmiri, G. skadii, G. bestlae, G. thrymi, G. halogii, and G. ymiri are represents of the subfamily Aleurodicinae. The newly described genus appeared as highly diverse, with 7 new species, while remaining Paleogene Aleurodicinae are monospecific in vast majority. The key for identification of species of Aleurodicinae from Eocene Danish amber is provided. The morphological features of newly established taxa are discussed. A brief overview of the Aleyrodidae preserved in the Eocene fossil resins is presented, their taxonomic diversity and morphological disparity offered by the fossilised imagines are discussed. The importance of the fossil for phylogenetic, evolutionary and ecological studies is presented. Various factors influencing diversification and disparification of whiteflies at local and regional scales are discussed. The potential biases associated with the collection and preservation of specimens are briefly overviewed. Records of Aleyrodidae in the fossil resins of Eocene of Europe are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yunnan province is most important area of potato planting in China. Meanwhile, there are many factors constraint to its developments, especially pest damage. So, eleven potato cultivars (such as Hezuo 88, Lishu 6, Qingshu 9 and Yunshu 304) of vital commercial variety in Yunnan were selected for pests investigation. The field survey of eleven potato cultivars in two cropping seasons (spring and autumn) was conducted from 2020 to 2021 in Yunnan province, China. During autumn planting season of 2020 and 2021, populations of eight insect pests including aphid, thrips, whitefly, leafhopper, potato tuber moth, tomato leaf miner, beet armyworm and cabbage moth were surveyed. All pest's population peaked in October. Meanwhile, Qingshu 9 and Yunshu 304 has the largest population of aphid. The largest population of whitefly were reported on Hezuo 88 and Yunshu 304, respectively. The largest population of thrips were found on Hezuo 88, whereas Qingshu 9 has the lowest population of whitefly. The lowest population of aphid were observed on Lishu 6. The lowest population of thrips were found on Yunshu 304. During spring planting season of 2021, population of thrips, leafhopper and adult potato tuber moth were surveyed. The highest population was appeared in June. But there was no significant difference for the pests populations among different cultivars. These results of pests population dynamics during the cropping period would be helpful for making appropriate and sustainable pest management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae), is a global pest of cotton crops. The whitefly causes severe damage to plants both directly and indirectly due to its high dispersal ability, small size, and high reproductive potential. Besides all the possible factors regarding the outbreak of whitefly populations, the major one is widespread use of insecticides, which not only cause resistance development in whiteflies but also cause mortality in beneficial insects. This study reports the extraction, purification, and characterization of insecticidal crude proteins through SDS-PAGE and LC-MS/MS that have insecticidal potential against B. tabaci under lab conditions. This study reports that C. colocynthis fruit extract was the most effective (62%) and (54%) followed by C. colocynthis seed extract (48%) and (36%), respectively, against adult and nymphal instar of whitefly mitotype Asia II-1. Insecticidal crude protein extraction from C. colocynthis fruit was the most effective (77%) and (73%), followed by C. colocynthis seed crude protein (80%) and (76%), respectively, against the adult and nymphal instars of whitefly mitotype Asia II-1. Integration of C. colocynthis fruit crude protein + C. colocynthis seed crude protein was the most effective (82%) and (78%), against the adult and nymphal instars of whitefly mitotype Asia II-1. This study represents the inaugural controlled assessment conducted in Pakistan, providing valuable insights into the application of C. colocynthis insecticidal crude proteins. The findings offer potential alternative techniques for future pest management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A major constraint in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.)) production is damage caused by insect pests, whitefly and jassids, which results in low yield. Identification of resistant varieties is a convenient and eco-friendly way towards sustainable management of insect pests attacking okra. Therefore, population dynamics of the two major pests were recorded in fifteen hybrid varieties of okra during two consecutive years in 2019 and 2020. Plant varietal resistance and vigor were also evaluated in this study. Meanwhile, morphological parameters were also recorded as well as whitefly and jassid-infested and healthy leaves were collected for biochemical analysis. Significant varietal difference in terms of insect infestation were recorded with Kajari NOH-1684, Japani jhar, Singham and Rohini being comparatively resistant varieties. Correlation studies revealed significant negative correlation of whitefly and jassid population with hair density, hair length and total phenols; positive correlation with total protein and total sugar content. The comparative analysis of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activity revealed varieties more susceptible to whitefly and jassid attack resulted in higher enzyme activity in all the growth stages. The genotypes Kajari NOH-1684, Japani jhar, Singham and Rohini exhibit low infestations of whitefly and jassid, suggesting a tolerance based on their antixenotic properties. To enhance tolerance against these sucking pests, it is recommended to introduce the donor parents Kajari NOH-1684, Japani jhar, Singham and Rohini into okra breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Yellow mosaic disease (YMD) transmitted by white fly, Bemisia tabaci is the most persistent and devastating biotic stress worldwide and in India resulting the reduced productivity of mungbean. At the same time the yield levels in mungbean reached a plateau, which emphasizes the importance of varieties with improved productivity. Methods: In the present investigation, to address this urgent requirement of YMD resistant high yielding varieties, six-parameter model of generation mean analysis was employed for proper understanding of the genetic architecture and gene actions. Susceptible genotype MGG 385 was crossed with four resistant genotypes (LGG 607, LGG 630, WGG 42 and PM 5) to produce respective F1s (during rabi, 2018-19), BC1s, BC2s (during summer, 2019) and F2s (during kharif, 2019). These generations of the four crosses were evaluated for various yield related traits in rabi, 2019-20 and phenotyped for YMD in summer, 2020 at Lam, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh which is hotspot for YMD. Result: The scaling tests and joint scaling test indicated the inadequacy of Additive-dominant model for all most all traits including YMD except for branches per plant and pods per cluster. The study revealed the importance of non-allelic interactions in the inheritance of majority of traits including YMD. Among the non-allelic interactions, [l] type of interaction is predominant. Further, the control of duplicate type of epistasis in the inheritance is evident at least in few crosses for all the traits (except grain yield per plant) that had inadequacy for additive-dominant model, which hinders the pace of the progress through selection. In presence of inter-allelic interaction with such duplicate type of epistasis, population approach in self-pollinated crops, which is similar to recurrent selection in cross pollinated crops or biparental mating followed by conventional selection in the later generations should be adopted for identifying desirable segregants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) poses a serious constraint to tomato production in the Southeastern United States. Since its introduction, it has become endemic in states such as Georgia and Florida despite tomato-free periods. This study examined whether the endemic status of TYLCV is aided by the Bemisia tabaci B cryptic species' vertical and/or horizontal non-feeding modes of TYLCV (the Georgia variant of the Israel strain) transmission. The potential for 'non-feeding' transmission modes has been examined previously, with inconsistent results. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of TYLCV transovarial and/or sexual (mating) transmission and the subsequent transmissibility of the virus to virus-free plants. The study utilized a series of virus transmission assays and detection and quantitation tools. Our results indicate that non-feeding transmission modes are a rare phenomenon in this pathosystem, and their significance is irrelevant for the observed endemic status of TYLCV in the southeastern United States. Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) causes significant yield loss in tomato production in the southeastern United States and elsewhere. TYLCV is transmitted by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci cryptic species in a persistent, circulative, and non-propagative manner. Unexpectedly, transovarial and sexual transmission of TYLCV has been reported for one strain from Israel. In this study, the potential contribution of the B. tabaci B cryptic species transovarial and sexual transmission of TYLCV (Israel strain, Georgia variant, Georgia, USA) to reoccurring outbreaks was investigated by conducting whitefly-TYLCV transmission assays and virus DNA detection using end point PCR, DNA quantitation via real-time PCR, and virion detection by immunocapture PCR. TYLCV DNA was detectable in four, two, and two percent of first-generation fourth-instar nymphs, first-generation adults, and second-generation adults, respectively, following transovarial acquisition. Post-mating between viruliferous counterparts, the virus's DNA was detected in four percent of males and undetectable in females. The accumulation of TYLCV DNA in whiteflies from the transovarial and/or sexual experiments was substantially lower (100 to 1000-fold) compared with whitefly adults allowed a 48-hr acquisition-access period on plants infected with TYLCV. Despite the detection of TYLCV DNA in whiteflies from the transovarial and/or mating experiments, the virions were undetectable by immunocapture PCR—a technique specifically designed to detect virions. Furthermore, tomato test plants exposed to whitefly adults that presumably acquired TYLCV transovarially or through mating remained free of detectable TYLCV DNA. Collectively, the extremely low levels of TYLCV DNA and complete absence of virions detected in whiteflies and the inability of the B. tabaci cryptic species B to transmit TYLCV to test tomato plants following transovarial and mating acquisition indicate that neither transovarial nor sexual transmission of TYLCV are probable or epidemiologically relevant for TYLCV persistence in this pathosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The sweet potato whitefly is a major global pest in vegetable production. The management of this pest has typically relied heavily on insecticide treatments. Many populations of sweet potato whitefly are now resistant to insecticides. Therefore, alternative means to control this pest are needed. Many predatory insects consume sweet potato whiteflies, so helping lure and attract both predators and the pest to the same location could improve control. This study investigates attractive odors for sweet potato whiteflies and two predator species that could be used to improve sweet potato whitefly pest management. Traditionally, olfaction was thought to play a minor role in the behavioral ecology of the sweet potato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius). However, recent research is uncovering significant potential for whitefly management based on olfaction. Incorporating chemical attractants with standard whitefly management programs could significantly improve control. The integration of attractants with biological control is exceptionally promising. Therefore, the behavioral response of B. tabaci and two generalist predators to the green leaf volatiles (E)-2-hexenal, (Z)-3-hexenal, (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, and (Z)-3-hexe-1-ol were investigated in Y-tube olfactometers. Three of the four green leaf volatiles resulted in the attraction of female B. tabaci. Blend optimization indicated a two-chemical blend to be the most attractive blend for female B. tabaci. In addition, this blend was attractive to female Macrolophus praeclarus (Distant) but did not elicit a behavioral response from either male or female Delphastus catalinae (Horn). The two-chemical blend of green leaf volatiles could be further developed as a lure to attract B. tabaci and its predator, M. praeclarus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sucking pests in recent years have become a concern for cotton cultivation worldwide. In this sense, the study aimed to identify cotton genotypes resistant to sucking insect attacks. The experiment was conducted in Cassilândia in the 2016/2017 harvest, using thirteen cotton genotypes. During the crop season, weekly samples of cotton aphid, Silverleaf whitefly, and cotton stainer were obtained. The data obtained were subjected to the analysis of variance and the Scott-Knott clustering algorithm at the level of 5% probability. Cotton genotypes G. thuberi, Gba04, PAYM, G. trilobum, Gba01, Gba02, and Gba03 had the lowest populations of adults and nymphs of Silverleaf whitefly in the period. The genotypes PAYM, TX25, TX16, TX19, GBA03, IAC19, CO417, and EMPI were the most preferred for feeding by the cotton aphid. The cotton genotype IAC19 was the least preferred for feeding by cotton stainer; conversely, PAYM, Gba01, and TX25 were the most preferred for feeding by these insects. G. thuberi, Gba04, PAYM, G. trilobum, Gba01, and Gba02 were less harmed by the attack of Silverleaf whitefly adults and nymphs; however, Gba01, Gba02, and Gba04 were the least preferred for feeding by cotton aphids, and IAC19 was the least preferred for feeding by cotton stainer. The cotton aphids and Silverleaf whitefly adults and/or nymphs have a high negative correlation with cotton yield, making the pests more harmful to the harvest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bell peppers (Capsicum annuum) play a key role in food production, commerce, and society, with smallholder farmers being the 36 primary cultivators. However, the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) poses a significant threat to bell pepper crops. Traditional control methods rely heavily on the application of insecticides, resulting in increased production costs and ecological concerns. To address this issue, the establishment of decision‐making systems, starting with effective sampling plans, is crucial. This study aimed to develop a practical sampling strategy for assessing B. tabaci populations at different growth stages of bell pepper crops, including vegetative, flowering, and fruiting stages. Over a 4‐year period, commercial bell pepper fields were monitored to determine the optimal sampling technique and sample size. Results indicated that sampling the apical third of the plant's leaves and shaking the plants onto a white plastic tray yielded the most accurate samples. Pest densities followed a negative binomial distribution pattern, with a consistent aggregation parameter (Kc = 0.3339) across all fields. Therefore, assessing 78 plants per field was deemed necessary. The sampling procedure incurred a cost of up to $1.12 per hectare and required approximately 24 min. The simplicity, ease of execution, and low cost of the developed sampling strategy make it suitable for integration into comprehensive pest management programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton leaf curl Multan virus (CLCuMuV), a serious viral disease causative agent in cotton plants in South Asia, is transmitted by the Bemisia tabaci cryptic species complex in a persistent circulative manner. A previous study indicated that Asia II-7 whiteflies could transmit CLCuMuV, while Mediterranean (MED) whiteflies failed to transmit CLCuMuV. However, little is known about the genes involved in this process. In this study, Asia II-7 and MED B. tabaci were utilized to determine transcriptomic responses after 48 h of acquisition access periods (AAPs). Result of Illumina sequencing revealed that, 14,213 and 8,986 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Furthermore, DEGs related to the immune system and metabolism of Asia II-7 and MED in response to CLCuMuV-infected plants were identified and analyzed using Gene Ontologies (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and the number of related DEGs in MED was lower than that of Asia II-7. The most abundant groups of DEGs between both viruliferous and aviruliferous whitefly species were the zf-C2H2 family of transcription factors (TFs). Notably, in comparison to viruliferous MED, Asia II-7 exhibited more DEGs related to cathepsin biosynthesis. Overall, this study provides the basic information for investigating the molecular mechanism of how begomoviruses affect B. tabaci metabolism and immune response either as vector cryptic species or non-vector species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bemisia tabaci, commonly known as the sweetpotato whitefly, silverleaf whitefly or tobacco whitefly, is a major global pest of dicotyledonous crops. It causes direct damage through sap feeding and indirectly by transmitting numerous plant viruses. Its high reproductive rate and broad host range contribute to substantial yield losses across multiple crop families, including Fabaceae, Cucurbitaceae, and Solanaceae. Despite extensive research into management strategies, effective and affordable control measures for B. tabaci remain elusive. This review highlights the challenges posed by B. tabaci and emphasizes the urgent need for innovative, integrated pest management strategies to mitigate its impact on global agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This method of planting is developing in the United States and according to the obtained reports, it has saved water consumption, reduced the cost of weeding, increased production and maturity, and reduced the population of pests and damage to cotton. The advantages of this planting method include increasing maturity as well as crop yield. To investigate this issue in Golestan province, some important studies such as the effect of pix material, different fertilizers, pests and diseases and irrigation in planting very narrow row spacing were evaluated over two years. This experiment is to examine and compare the population of cotton whiteflies on 3 cluster cultivars and one control, using the method of narrow planting distance of 20 × 20 and 20 × 80 cm as a factorial design in the form of an RCBD with 3 replications in Hashemabad cotton research station in Gorgan during two years 2018-2019 was evaluated. Statistics of different stages of cotton whitefly pest were recorded weekly in the tested treatments and recorded in special tables. Based on the studies, the results of the combined analysis of variance showed that the yield in the cultivars tested in the Sajedi cultivar with a distance of 80 cm with an average wash of 1696 gr in the plot and Golestan® cultivar 80 cm with 1622.9 gr in the plot with the highest yield and cultivar T2 with a distance of 20 cm, 847.2 gr had the lowest yield in the plot. Infestation rate of cluster cultivars tested in very narrow cultivation of whitefly population density on Golestan® cultivars with a distance of 80 cm, Sajedi with a distance of 20 cm with 65.50 and 57.75 whitefly in the leaves had the highest infestation, respectively, and on Sajedi cultivars with a distance of 80 cm with a density of 46.75 whitefly on the leaves had the least infestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Tetralicia is described. Tetralicia jobompichensis García-Ochaeta y Carapia-Ruiz n. sp. was found on the underside of the leaves of Hamelia patens Jacq. (Rubiaceae) in San José, Jobompiche, Petén, Guatemala This new species is included in the group nigrans. The morphological structures are illustrated with photographs of the puparium, and the relationships between closely related species are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of Tetralicia from tropical America, are described, including Tetralicia dooleyi n. sp. found on the underside of the leaves of Psychotria aubletiana Steyerm. of San Calos, Alajuela, Costa Rica and Chiriqui, Panama; and Tetralicia cefaloputla n. sp. found on the underside of the leaves of an unidentified shrub in Santa Maria Zacatepec, municipality of Putla de Guerrero, Oaxaca. These new species are included in the group annonae. The morphological structures are illustrated with photographs of the species and relationships between the near species are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sweet potato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci MED (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), is highly harmful to solanaceous crops. The use of essential oils (EOs) is promising for the management of several insect pests, promoting both lethal and sublethal effects. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of sublethal concentrations of Pelargonium graveolens L'Her (Geraniaceae) EO on the feeding behavior of B. tabaci MED on tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L., Solanaceae). For this research, the electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique was used to monitor whitefly stylet activities on their host plants. Two sets of plants were previously sprayed with two concentrations of EO (the LC25 and LC50, which were determined in a mortality test), a third set was treated with the insecticide cyantraniliprole, and a fourth set received a control treatment. Our results indicate that the insecticide cyantraniliprole and the EO could both reduce the stylet feeding activity of B. tabaci MED, as well as reduce the number and duration of phloem sap ingestion events (waveform E2), which could avoid or reduce the transmission of viruses. Thus, the application of sublethal concentrations of P. graveolens EO, as well as exposure to cyantraniliprole, negatively affected the feeding behavior of B. tabaci MED. This information may contribute to the management of this pest and the reduction of the incidence of viruses in tomato production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Plant Protection & Pathology is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In most sub-Saharan African countries, cassava propagation occurs through dry farming techniques that involve cultivation without irrigation, which inhibits water management culture. This study investigated the water productivity of enhanced cassava cultivars in tropical rain-fed locations with dry farming conditions. Soil samples were obtained from three locations in the field using a soil auger and sieve analysis. Four enhanced stem cassava varieties free of disease (TMS 30572, TMS 980505, TMS 920326, and TMS 090581) were analyzed for growth characteristics for 90, 120, and 150 days after planting (DAP), and the number of tubers per plant, tuber length, tuber circumference, root depth, above ground biomass, and tuber yield were measured. Agronomic growth metrics, including height of plant, stem diameter, and number of nodes and stems, were also measured. The cassava crop coefficient was obtained and the reference crop evapotranspiration was computed using CropWat 8.0 software. TMS 090581 had the highest tuber productivity of 1.64 kg/m3, 3.77 kg/m³ and 3.05 kg/m³ and the highest average tuber yield value of 5.68 t/ha,16.06 t/ha and 18.75 t/ha at 90, 120 and 150 DAP, respectively. TMS 920326 resulted in the highest stem productivity of 1.98 kg/m³ and 2.72 kg/m³ at 90 and 150 DAP respectively while TMS 30572 had the highest stem productivity of 2.59 kg/m3 at 120 DAP. The highest leaf productivity of 1.94 kg/m³ was attained by TMS 980505 at 90 DAP while TMS 30572 yielded the highest leaf productivity values of 2.32 kg/m³ and 2.02 kg/m³ at 120 and 150 DAP, respectively. Despite being susceptible to white flies, TMS 30572 yielded the highest number of nodes, resulting in increased leaf production. TMS 090581 is recommended for tuber water productivity, and TMS 30572 and 980505 for leaf and stem productivity in water-scarce environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: YMV disease in mungbean is one of the major disease causing heavy losses annually throughout the country. As the disease is transmitted by insect vector, management of vector is important to check the YMV disease that can minimise the losses. The present investigation was aimed to evaluate different IPM modules for management of YMV disease of mungbean. Methods: Field experiments were carried out during Rabi season of 2016-17 and 2017-18 at the Research Farm of Regional Research and Technology Transfer Station, Chiplima, Sambalpur, Odisha, India. Population of whitefly was recorded on three leaves selected from top, middle and bottom canopy of the plant. Disease severity was recorded by using 0-9 scale. Result: The IPM module i.e. seed treatment with Thiamethoxam 25 WG @ 5 gm kg-1 of seed, installation of yellow sticky trap @ 50 ha-1 and spraying of Acetamiprid 20 SP @ 0.3 gm l-1 of water was found as the most effective among all other modules. Pooled analysis of two years data revealed that 65.5% YMV disease control and 59.3% reduction of white fly population over control were performed by the said IPM module. A maximum increase in yield (84.8%) and highest cost benefit ratio (1.77) were also achieved with the module. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) is a well known pest of many crops specially vegetables including tomato plant. Mostly tomato plant disorders are directly and indirectly related to the silver leaf whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) feeding. In this manner, most countries use lots of pesticides which are really threatening to the environment and ecosystem at an alarming position. Thus we aim to use different plant extracts to control whitefly efficiently and minimize the negative impact of pesticides on the environment. This experiment was conducted in a greenhouse and field as well to draw complete conclusion. In this experiment we used five different treatments, T1-NLE (neem leaves extracts), T2-TLE (tobacco leaves extracts), T3- combination (TLE+NLE+ neem kernels), T4-insecticide (Movento) and T5-un-treated. According to our findings in the greenhouse, adult whitefly population's lowest count is (0.66±0.248) in NLE treated tomato plants and highest whitefly numbers found were (5.84±1.04) in un-treated plants. For the nymph, the same result follows (0.23±0.20) in NLE treated plants and (5.62±1.20) in un-treated plants. In field's experiment lowest adult population of whitefly found in NLE (1.74±0.48) and highest numbers found in un-treated (9.64±1.23). This experiment proves that plants extracts are more effective, economical and eco-friendly. This study can be potentially extended to other pests and crops. Consolidated viewpoint of this investigation, we state that plants extricates all the more integral assets to control sucking complex or whitefly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rugose spiraling whitefly, Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), is an invasive pest on coconut and other horticultural crops. An indigenous nymphal parasitoid, Encarsia guadeloupae Viggiani (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), is found to co-exist as a promising natural enemy of A. rugioperculatus. The bacterial community associated with whiteflies was reported to influence the parasitism efficiency of different parasitoids. Hence, the present investigation was carried out to test the role of the associated bacterial community of A. rugioperculatus on the parasitic efficiency of E. guadeloupae through the antibiotic-curing method. The identity of the test insects viz., A. rugioperculatus and E. guadeloupae were confirmed using the mtCOI gene before carrying out the investigation. The parasitization efficiency of E. guadeloupae was recorded on symbiotic (untreated) and antibiotic-treated A. rugioperculatus nymphal stages reared on four host plants viz., coconut, banana, sapota, and guava. The antibiotics Carbenicillin @ 100 µg ml− 1 and Ciprofloxacin @ 5 µg ml− 1 were combined and fed to A. rugioperculatus adults by parafilm feeding chamber method to eliminate the possible cultivable bacteria. The results revealed the complete elimination of cultivable bacteria in the F4 generation, and hence, the F4, F5, and F6A. rugioperculatus populations were tested for their susceptibility to parasitization by E. guadeloupae. Higher parasitism (74.70%), lower emergence rate (59.70%), and longer developmental time (21.00 days) of E. guadeloupae were observed in the antibiotic-treated population than in untreated A. rugioperculatus population of the F6 generation. Elimination of bacterial symbionts through antibiotic treatment might have suppressed the immunity and nutritional status of the whiteflies and led to more susceptibility toward parasitoid attack, poor parasitoid emergence and longer developmental time of E. guadeloupae on antibiotic-treated A. rugioperculatus. Our investigation revealed that antibiotic curing of bacterial symbionts associated with host insects had a minimal impact on the parasitic efficiency of E. guadeloupae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetables are treated as high-value crops due to their sizeable area and production throughout the world but are plagued by a variety of insect pests throughout the growing season. Among vegetables, tomato is most common and extensively grown throughout India and faces the challenge of insect pests. During winter 2021–2022 and 2022-23, tomato crop in Haryana state faced the problem of three important insect pests viz., serpentine leaf miner (Liriomyza trifolii), whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) and aphids (Aphis gossypii). To monitor and manage these insect pest menace, yellow sticky traps were used under field conditions. The yellow sticky traps were found to be effective in monitoring the target pests for taking up further management interventions wherein the mean number of adult leaf miners, adult whiteflies and alate aphids trapped /square inch of yellow sticky trap ranged from 46.26 ± 1.96 to 61.03 ± 2.59, 5.42 ± 0.12 to 9.68 ± 0.13, and 9.83 ± 0.70 to 15.76 ± 0.34, respectively. Further, it was found that installation of 10–12 yellow sticky traps/0.40 ha proved effective in mass trapping of leaf miners, whiteflies and aphids in tomato by reducing the pest population per plant under field conditions. Integrated approach (Mass trapping using yellow sticky traps + label claim insecticidal spray) recorded less population of serpentine leaf miners (1.70 ± 0.03 live mines/03 leaves), whiteflies (3.91 ± 0.02 adults/03 leaves) and aphids (5.01 ± 0.07/03 young leaves) as compared to conventional approach (Farmer practice). The integrated approach evaluated was found economical resulting in 38.14% less expenditure cost due to 45.45% reduction in insecticidal spray, evincing the economic benefits of integrated approach of pest management over conventional approach in tomato. Therefore, installation of yellow sticky traps at suggested rate are recommended for management of serpentine leaf miners, whiteflies and aphids through mass trapping in tomato crop grown under field condition as an effective component of integrated pest management programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feeding potential and foraging behavior are complimentary to determine the efficiency of a predator. The predatory potential of both grub and adult stages of Cheilomenes sexmaculata (F.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) was investigated against different developmental stages of cotton whitefly, Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Aleyrodidae: Hemiptera), under laboratory conditions (27 ± 2 °C; 70 ± 5% RH; 14 h L: 10 h D). Fourth instar grub of C. sexmaculata exhibited the highest feeding potential against the whitefly stages (41.74 adults, 33.41 pupae and 31.33 nymphs), whereas first instar grub exhibited the lowest feeding potential (10.15 adults, 9.15 pupae and 7.00 whitefly nymphs). The female beetle consumed the highest number of prey (1445.29 adults, 1364.88 pupae, and 1374.35 whitefly nymphs) followed by male beetle (1390.12 adults, 1308.18 pupae and 1325.35 whitefly nymphs). Both Roger's and Holling's models indicated a type II functional response curve for all the grub and adult stages of C. sexmaculata. Cheilomenes sexmaculata female showed the highest attack rate (4.65 h-1), and the maximum rate of predation 37.5 insects/day, whereas the male beetle recorded the lowest handling time (0.02 h). The fourth instar grub showed the highest attack rate (1.30 h-1) against the B. tabaci pupae, whereas the female beetle showed the maximum rate of predation 38.18 insects/day, with the lowest handling time (0.04 h). Female beetle showed the highest attack rate (6.87 h-1), whereas the fourth instar grub showed the maximum rate of predation 41.7 insects/day with the lowest handling time (0.01 h). Hence, it is advocated to release the fourth instar grubs and adult females of C. sexmaculata collectively for the augmentative biological control of B. tabaci in the IPM program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In February 2024, the ficus whitefly Singhiella simplex (Singh, 1931) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) was first reported in a tropical greenhouse and inside a private house in Northern Italy (Vertemate con Minoprio and Monza, respectively – Lombardy Region). The observed ficus whiteflies caused severe defoliation on different Ficus species including Ficus benjamina and Ficus retusa. Several third and fourth larval instars of Singhiella simplex were associated with the parasitoid wasp Encarsia hispida De Santis, 1948 (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae). Morphological and molecular analyses were performed to identify both S. simplex and E. hispida. Based on current knowledge, this is the first report of the ficus whitefly in Northern Italy as well as the first observation of its association with the parasitoid wasp E. hispida in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bemisia tabaci Middle East-Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) is a significant pest that damages a wide range of high-value vegetable crops in south Florida. This pest has demonstrated the ability to develop resistance to various insecticide groups worldwide. Monitoring the resistance levels of MEAM1 populations and maintaining baseline susceptibility data are crucial for the long-term effectiveness of insecticide management strategies. We conducted serial dilution bioassays on 15 field populations of MEAM1 collected in south Florida to assess their resistance to 4 key insecticides: afidopyropen, cyantraniliprole, dinotefuran, and flupyradifurone. To quantify resistance levels, resistance ratios (RR) were generated by comparing the LC50 values of field populations to those of a known susceptible MEAM1 colony reared in the laboratory. Our findings reveal that all field-collected populations were susceptible to dinotefuran (RR 1–8) and flupyradifurone (RR 2–8). While over 80% of the populations tested were susceptible to afidopyropen (RR 1–9), 2 populations exhibited low (RR 38) and moderate resistance (RR 51), respectively. In contrast, most of the populations (57%) showed low to moderate resistance to cyantraniliprole (RR 21–78), and the remaining populations were susceptible (RR 3–10). The 2 populations with resistance to afidopyropen also exhibited moderate resistance to cyantraniliprole. Further research in this direction can aid in refining insecticide resistance management programs in Florida and other regions where B. tabaci MEAM1 is a major pest. Exploring the implications of these findings will be essential for insecticide use and integrated pest management strategies in south Florida. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Plant Protection & Pathology is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The complete mitochondrial genome of Pealius mori (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) was determined in this study. The mitogenome was 15,654 bp long with 37 typical Insecta mitochondrial genes and one non-coding control region. Its gene content and order were different to other Hemiptera mitochondrial genomes. The overall nucleotide composition of the mitogenome was 42.62% A, 32.73% T, 11.12% G and 13.54% C, with an A + T bias of 75.34%. Phylogenetic analyses of 14 species in Aleyrodidae, 2 species in Lepidoptera and 1 species in Thysanoptera by Maximum Likelihood showed that P. mori China had been more closely related to P. mori France, closely related to Pealius machili. This result well supported the taxonomic position of Aleyrodidae and their close relationship with the Pealius category.

Background: Cucumber plants are susceptible to several economically damaging pests, including whiteflies, aphids, thrips and spider mites. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of two biological control programs, utilizing different releases of bio-agents, in comparison with chemical control method. The bio-agents used were the aphid parasitoid Aphelinus albipodus Hayat and Fatima (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), the green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea (Steph.) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) and the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) in two release rates; low and high. Additionally, a chemical pesticides treatment was included for comparison in managing the pests in cucumber greenhouses during the winter seasons of 2022 and 2023, in Egypt. Abundances of whitefly, aphids, thrips and spider mites were recorded weekly throughout the study. Results: The aphid population in the greenhouse with high release rate (BIO 2) showed the highest reduction, with percentages of 84.55 and 89.88% in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Both greenhouse with low release rate (BIO 1) and BIO 2 exhibited significant reductions in the whitefly population, with proportions of 71.31 and 72.01% in 2022, and 82.05 and 85.94% in 2023, respectively. The thrips population also experienced notable reductions in both BIO 1 and BIO 2 greenhouses, with percentages of 72.08 and 75.71% in 2022, and 59.93 and 61.38% in 2023, respectively. However, the pesticide treatment demonstrated the lowest reduction in populations of aphids, whitefly and thrips in both seasons. Nevertheless, in all treatments in the two evaluated seasons, the high release rate of the predatory mite, P. persimilis (15 individuals/m2), proved to be highly effective in maintaining the mite populations below the economic threshold level. However, the population density of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch. (Acari: Tetranychidae), increased in the pesticide-treated greenhouse, indicating the development of resistance to pesticides. Although the tested programs resulted in similar yields, the biological control approach offered the advantage of pesticide-free produce and reduced production costs. Conclusion: For pest management in cucumber growing in greenhouses during winter, it is recommended to use biological control agents at a low release rate at the early occurrence of pests. This approach can help minimize pest populations effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bemisia tabaci New World (NW) (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), a whitefly in the B. tabaci species complex, is polyphagous on many plant species. Yet, it has been displaced, albeit not entirely, by other whitefly species. Potential causes could include issues with adaptation, feeding, and the colonization of new-hosts; however, insights that would help clarify these possibilities are lacking. Here, we sought to address these gaps by performing electropenetrography (EPG) recordings of NW whiteflies, designated "Napus" and "Rapa," reared on 2 colony hosts, Brassica napus and B. rapa , respectively. Analysis of 17 probing and pathway (pw) phase-related EPG variables revealed that the whiteflies exhibited unique probing behaviors on their respective colony hosts, with some deterrence being encountered on B. rapa. Upon switching to B. rapa and B. napus , the probing patterns of Napus and Rapa whiteflies, respectively, adapted quickly to these new-hosts to resemble that of whiteflies feeding on their colony hosts. Results for 3 of the EPG variables suggested that B. rapa 's deterrence against Napus whitefly was significant prior to the phloem phase. This also suggested that adaptation by Rapa whitefly improved its pw probing on B. rapa. Based on analysis of 24 phloem phase-related EPG variables, Napus and Rapa whiteflies performed equally well once they entered phloem phase and exhibited comparable phloem acceptability on both the colony- and new-hosts. These findings demonstrate that NW whiteflies reared on a colony host are highly adaptable to feeding on a new host despite encountering some deterrence during the nonphloem phases in B. rapa plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The predatory insects Macrolophus pygmaeus Ramber (Heteroptera: Miridae) and Nesidiocoris tenuis Reuter (Heteroptera: Miridae) are important biological control agents used commercially for the control of main pests in greenhouses, such as Tuta absoluta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) and whiteflies (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). In this study, we investigated the predation efficacy of young and old females and males of the two mirid bugs, M. pygmaeus and N. tenuis, when feeding on eggs of T. absoluta on tomato leaves. Young females of M. pygmaeus exhibited a higher predation efficiency compared to old ones, whereas males displayed a consistently low efficiency of predation irrespective of their age. Both young females and males of N. tenuis displayed a similarly high predation efficiency, although the old females exhibited a higher efficiency of predation compared to their male counterparts, but lower than the efficacy of the M. pygmaeus individuals. Our findings indicate that the two predatory species have different functional response characteristics to their prey depending mainly on their sex and age which may influence their efficacy as biological control agents. The predatory mirids Macrolophus pygmaeus Ramber (Heteroptera: Miridae) and Nesidiocoris tenuis Reuter (Heteroptera: Miridae) are used for the biological control of Tuta absoluta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) and other pests in tomato greenhouses. The functional response of 1-day-old (young) and 10-day-old (old) adult females and males of M. pygmaeus and N. tenuis on eggs of T. absoluta was determined on tomato at two temperatures (20 °C and 25 °C) and LD 16:8. Females of M. pygmaeus exhibited higher predation efficiency than males at both tested temperatures. Young M. pygmaeus females had a higher efficiency than old ones, whereas males had a low efficiency irrespective of age. The predation efficiency of N. tenuis was high (but lower than M. pygmaeus) in both young females and males, although old females had a higher efficiency than the respective males. Our results show that the two predatory species have different functional response characteristics to their prey depending mainly on sex and age, which may affect their role as biological control agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) destroys a great proportion of crops in India. Whitefly is the carrier of begomovirus which causes okra yellow vein mosaic viral disease. Preventing the pest infestation without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides is the need of the hour. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) involves strategies that maintain pest population below Economic Injury Level (EIL). In the present study a multiplex insect catching trap was constructed with the aim of controlling pest infestation in a sustainable and eco-friendly manner. The multiplex trap was prepared using yellow sticky papers and Methyl Eugenol pheromone as an insect/pest attractant. The traps were placed in field and thereafter plants were tested for the presence of viral DNA using PCR. The fields in which traps were placed showed negligible or few instances of viral infection while the fields in which no traps were placed showed considerable virus infection. Additionally, the fields with the trap showed a higher yield percentage of crop compared to the field with no trap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Temperature is a primary factor that determines the eco‐geographical distribution and population development of invasive insects. Temperature stress leads to various negative effects, including excess reactive oxygen species (ROS), and catalase (CAT) is a key enzyme against ROS in the antioxidant pathway. The whitefly Bemisia tabaci MED is a typical invasive pest that causes damage worldwide. Our previous studies have shown that CAT promotes whitefly adaptation to high temperature by eliminating ROS. However, the mechanism underlying the low‐temperature adaptation of whiteflies is still unknown. RESULTS: In this study, we investigated the role of CAT in the low‐temperature tolerance of B. tabaci MED by analyzing its survival rate, reproduction, and ROS levels at 25 °C (as a control, suitable temperature), 20 °C (moderately decreased temperature), and 4 °C (severely decreased temperature). Silencing of BtCAT1, BtCAT2, or BtCAT3 reduced the viability of whiteflies under a short‐term severely decreased temperature (4 °C), which manifested as decreases in survival and fecundity accompanied by significant increases in ROS levels. Moreover, even at a moderately decreased temperature (20 °C), silencing of BtCAT1 led to high ROS levels and low survival rates in adults. CONCLUSION: Silencing of BtCATs significantly increased the sensitivity of B. tabaci MED to low temperatures. BtCAT1 is likely more essential than other BtCATs for low‐temperature tolerance in whiteflies. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, is a major pest of cassava in Africa. Developing whitefly-resistant cassava can control both whiteflies and viral diseases. The main aim of this study was to identify cassava genotypes resistant to four B. tabaci populations, sub-Saharan Africa 1—subgroups 1, 2, and 3 (SSA1-SG1, SSA1-SG2, and SSA1-SG3) and sub-Saharan Africa 2 (SSA2) that colonize cassava, as well as understand the mechanisms of resistance. Utilizing the antixenosis and antibiosis techniques in the choice and no-choice tests, respectively, to screen for whitefly resistance, we tested 46 cassava genotypes. Of these, 11 (Njule Red, Nase 3, Nase 1, Kibandameno, Sagonja, Aladu, Kiroba, Magana, 72-TME-14, Sauti, and PER 415) exhibited antixenosis, as they were least preferred for oviposition by all four whiteflies population in choice tests. Ten genotypes exhibited antibiosis (nymph mortality) against SSA1-SG1 and SSA1-SG3 in no-choice tests, and these were, Pwani, Nase 14, Kalawe, Eyope, NGA11, CoI2246, Mkumbozi, KBH2002/0066, Yizaso, and PER 608. Eight genotypes—Tongolo, Mbundumali, Colicanana, Orera, Ofumbachai, Nam 130, Tajirika, and MECU72—exhibited both antixenosis and antibiosis mechanisms against SSA1-SG1 and SSA1-SG3. And these can be considered the best sources of resistance for the potential development of whitefly-resistant cassava varieties in African countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the population dynamics of rugose spiralling whitefly on coconut and their correlation with abiotic factors. Topics discussed include the popularity of coconut, data on correlation between weather parameters and rugose spirally whitefly population during winter season, and important role of weather parameters in the incidence of rugose spiralling whitefly.

The article presents a study which focused on the population dynamics of whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) and jassid (Amrascabiguttula biguttula) affecting black gram (Vigna mungo L.) crops. It was found that whitefly population first appeared during the first week of August 2024, registering a mean population of 0.26 whiteflies per five plants. The infestation showed a positive correlation with morning relative humidity as well as with rainfall.

Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) population poses significant threat to cotton production in tropical and subtropical countries, and act as a vector for plenty of viruses predominantly begomoviruses and associated satellite molecules. Plant mediated RNAi (PM-RNAi) based approach carrying in silico identified miR166b of Gossypium hirsutum cv. HS6 targeting ESTs (Expressed Sequence Tags) of B. tabaci has been effective against whitefly insect and also providing tolerance from cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD) as reported earlier. Current study focuses on stability of transgene in subsequent generations of transgenic cotton lines and its effectiveness in providing protection against CLCuD. Subsequent generations showed reduced diseased symptoms and no phenotypic abnormality from exogenous construct. Overall findings demonstrate effectiveness of RNAi based construct against insect vector whitefly and its stable inheritance across subsequent generations underscore the potential of this approach for sustainable protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field studies were carried out to assess the incidence and management of whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) on nine promising potato varieties under sprayed condition and unsprayed condition during 2022-23 and 2023-24 at Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut, U.P., India. The maximum incidence of whitefly (15.32/10 plants) was recorded in Kufri Lima followed by Kufri Lohit (14.57/10 plants), when crop remained unsprayed condition. In protected potato varieties viz., Kufri Kiran, Kufri Chipsona-1, Kufri Anand, Kufri Chipsona-3, Kufri Lohit, Kufri Khyati, Kufri Mohan, Kufri Bahar and Kufri Lima, the population of whitefly was low as compared to unsprayed condition. Potato varieties viz., Kufri Khyati, Kufri Anand and Kufri Mohan recorded the highest mean tuber yield of 43.51, 42.38, and 41.04 t/ha, respectively under sprayed condition. Similarly these varieties recorded maximum yield even under unsprayed condition. Thus, it is concluded from the present study that for effective management of whitefly, potato crop should be well protected by seed treatment with Imidacloprid followed by first spray of pymetrozine 50WG @ 0.06% (6 g/10 l), second spray of thiamethoxam 25 WG @ 0.05% (5 ml/10 l) and third spray of imidacloprid 17.8 SL @ 0.03% (3 ml/10 l) as and when there will be any buildup of whitefly on potato, especially for seed crop to get maximum potential yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci MEAM1, is one of the most devastating pests of row-crop vegetables worldwide, damaging crops directly through feeding and indirectly through the transmission of many different viruses, including the geminivirus Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV). Y-tube olfactometer tests were conducted at different stages of TYLCV infection in tomatoes to understand how TYLCV affects B. tabaci behavior. We also recorded changes in tomato hosts' color and volatile profiles using color spectrophotometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). We found that the infection status of B. tabaci and the infection stage of TYLCV influenced host selection, with uninfected whiteflies showing a preference for TYLCV-infected hosts, especially during the late stages of infection. Viruliferous B. tabaci attraction to visual targets significantly differed from non-viruliferous B. tabaci. Late-stage infected hosts had larger surface areas reflecting yellow-green wavelengths and higher emissions of methyl salicylate in their volatile profiles. These findings shed new light on several critical mechanisms involved in the viral manipulation of an insect vector and its economically important host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), is a polyphagous and major pest of cotton worldwide. Both adults and nymphs of B. tabaci affect the crop by causing direct and indirect damage. A severe whitefly outbreak was experienced during 2015 on cotton in North India and this was followed by a profound infestation during 2022. The present research rigorously examined whether the proliferation in the whitefly population was an outbreak or the result of a multi factor resurgence. During 2015, whitefly counts remained above the economic threshold level (ETL) between 28th and 35th Standard Meteorological Week (SMW). However, during 2022 above ETL population was observed in 27th SMW and it persisted until 36th SMW. The peak incidence of the whitefly was noticed during 31st and 29th SMW in 2015 and 2022, respectively. The early pest build up in 2022 and longer persistence (≥10 weeks) over the cotton season resulted in more damage to cotton crop. Additionally, pest survillence across the zone on the farmers' fields during 2022 revealed 44.4 per cent spots (585 out of 1,317 locations) above ETL while the corresponding locations in 2015 was 57% (620 out of 1,089). Thus, in 2022 infestation was not uniform in the entire zone wherein only few blocks of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan states of India experienced severe infestations of the whitefly. This study reports the complex of factors including weather, delayed sowing, use of tank mixtures/ subleathal doses of insecticides, pest resurgence etc. that might have possibly contributed to these upsurges in whitefly on cotton in north India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]