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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #252722
Title: EVALUATING SILVERLEAF WHITEFLY OVIPOSITION ON GIANT RED MUSTARD AND OTHER VEGETABLE CROPS

Author
item Legaspi, Jesusa
item Miller, Neil

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/29/2010
Publication Date: 5/24/2010
Citation: Legaspi, J.C., Miller, N.W. 2010. EVALUATING SILVERLEAF WHITEFLY OVIPOSITION ON GIANT RED MUSTARD AND OTHER VEGETABLE CROPS. Southeastern Branch of the Entomological Society of America. Meeting Abstract.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: One of the major insect pests of vegetable crops is the silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), due to direct feeding damage and its ability to transmit plant diseases. The use of companion crops with repellant or masking volatiles has been suggested as a potential crop protection method. The objectives of this study were: 1) to test for the presence of repellent properties of giant red mustard in a greenhouse assay using potted plants; and 2) to compare oviposition by B. argentifolii on giant red mustard with other vegetable crops in the field. The greenhouse study used the following plant pair treatments 1) collard and collard, 2) mustard and collard and 3) mustard and mustard. The field experiment included the following vegetable crop treatments: collards, squash, cabbage, broccoli, cantaloupe grown next to central rows of giant red mustard. Greenhouse experiments showed reduced oviposition by B. argentifolii on giant red mustard. Pairs of collard plants showed higher egg numbers than pairs of giant red mustard plants, or a pair of mustard and collard plants. Field experiments showed highest whitefly oviposition on squash and cantaloupe and lowest on giant red mustard with other crops hosting intermediate densities. Results from this study will be useful in developing management strategies against the silverleaf whitefly.