ARS | Publication request: Resistance of Citrullus Colocynthis to Whiteflies and Spidermites

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: February 15, 2007
Publication Date: June 15, 2007
Citation: Levi, A., Simmons, A.M., Lopez, R., Kousik, C.S., Shepard, M., Jackson, D.M., Harrison Jr, H.F., Edelstien, M., Palevsky, E., Tadmor, K. 2007. Resistance of Citrullus Colocynthis to Whiteflies and Spidermites. HortScience. 42(3):454.

Technical Abstract: The B-biotype sweetpotato whitefly (SPWF), Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae), and the two-spotted spider mite (TSSM), Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) are serious pests of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai var. lanatus) (Cucurbitaceae). United States Plant Introduction (PI) accessions representing different groups of Citrullus spp. were examined for SPWF and TSSM resistance in the greenhouse and in insect rearing rooms at the U.S. Vegetable Laboratory, Charleston, South Carolina, during 2003-2006. SPWF and TSSM were significantly (P < 0.05) less abundant on C. colocynthis PIs compared with C. lanatus var. citroides PIs and watermelon cultivars (C. lanatus var. lanatus). Also in a study we conducted with broad mites [Polyhagotarsonemus latus (Banks)], they were less abundant on C. colocynthis plants compared with watermelon cultivars. Useful sources of resistance to SPFW and TSSM may be present in C. colocynthis due to its wide geographic distribution (from the arid regions throughout North Africa, Middle East and South West and Central Asia) and wide genetic diversity. However, overcoming wide genetic difference between C. colocynthis and cultivated watermelon (C. lanatus var. lanatus) and removing undesired traits of C. colocynthis will be a challenge.