Bemisia tabaci population density dependent on tomato rootstock
The tobacco whitefly Bemisia tabaci is among the most damaging pests in greenhouse production of tomatoes.
Insecticide resistance management of B. tabaci requires continuous improvement of non-chemical methods for pest control.
The goal of this study was to test the effects of scion and rootstock cultivars on the population densities of B. tabaci adult and large nymphs (4th instar to pupae), in a hydroponically grown tomato crop.
The experiment was conducted using tomato cultivars Clarabella and Estatio during the spring-summer season.
The tomato plants were non-grafted, self-grafted or grafted onto the rootstocks of Arnold, Buffon, Emperador, and Maxifort. A two-factorial experimental design was applied.
Initially, 3 days after infestation (DAI), the scion of Estatio was more attractive to adults of B. tabaci, while 6 DAI, this difference was no longer apparent.
For both assessments, the number of pest adult individuals was lower when scions were grafted onto tested rootstocks.
Thus, plants of non-grafted or self-grafted Clarabella and Estatio were more infested than the plants grafted onto the rootstocks.
The density of large nymphs was higher on Estatio than on Clarabella at 54 DAI, while such a difference was not observed at 35 and 77 DAI. In terms of the rootstock effect, tomato grafting onto commercial rootstocks reduced nymphal populations in all three assessment periods.
The differences among the rootstocks for nymphal population density were not confirmed.
The results indicated that grafting tomato plants could be included in an integrated management strategy for B. tabaci.
Dumičić, G., Mandušić, M., Goreta Ban, S. and Žanić, K. (2020). Bemisia tabaci population density dependent on tomato rootstock. Acta Hortic. 1269, 153-160
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2020.1269.21
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2020.1269.21
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2020.1269.21
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2020.1269.21
cultivar, grafting, IPM, Solanum lycopersicum, tobacco whitefly
English
1269_21
153-160
- Division Plant Genetic Resources and Biotechnology
- Division Tropical and Subtropical Fruit and Nuts
- Division Temperate Tree Fruits
- Division Temperate Tree Nuts
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits
- Division Ornamental Plants
- Division Vegetables, Roots and Tubers
- Division Physiology and Plant-Environment Interactions of Horticultural Crops in Field Systems
- Division Protected Cultivation and Soilless Culture
- Division Postharvest and Quality Assurance