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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Insects and Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #174573
Title: TOXICITY OF SUCROSE OCTANOATE TO EGG, NYMPHAL, AND ADULT BEMISIA TABACI (HEMIPTERA: ALEYRODIDAE) USING A NOVEL PLANT-BASED BIOASSAY

Author
item McKenzie, Cindy
item Weathersbee Iii, Albert
item Puterka, Gary

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/5/2005
Publication Date: 5/6/2005
Citation: McKenzie, C.L., Weathersbee III A.A., Puterka, G.J. 2005. Toxicity of sucrose octanoate to egg, nymphal, and adult Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) using a novel plant-based bioassay. Journal of Economic Entomology. 98(4):1242-1247.

Interpretive Summary: Sucrose octanoate was evaluated for efficacy against the sweetpotatoe whitefly, Bemisia tabaci B biotype using a novel plant based bioassay. Order of toxicity for the different whitefly stages was small nymph > adult > large nymph Sucrose oct> egg. The tomato leaf bioassay produced reliable and repeatable results for whitefly toxicity studies and predicted that effective whitefly control can be achieved with sucrose octanoate at recommended application rates. Additional studies are warranted to determine if this biorational pesticide has application in commercial tomato production.

Technical Abstract: The sweetpotatoe whitefly, Bemisia tabaci B biotype, presents a unique problem for vegetable growers because it vectors plant viruses and induces physiological disorders of leaves and fruit. A zero tolerance level is recognized since a single whitefly can transmit disease, yet currently only one insecticide is available for whitefly control. Additional control methods are needed to assist in managing this pest in commercial vegetables. Extracts of wild tobacco contain natural sugar esters that have previously been shown effective in controlling many soft bodied insects. We developed a novel tomato leaf bioassay system to assess a synthetic sugar ester derivative, sucrose octanoate, for insecticidal activity against the eggs, nymphs and adults of B. tabaci. The LC50 values for sucrose octanoate against adults, 2nd instar nymphs, and 4th instar nymphs of the whitefly were 880, 686, and 1,571 ppm, respectively. The LC50 against whitefly eggs was higher (11,446 ppm), but indicated that egg mortality occurred at the recommended application rate. Toxicity of sugar esters to whitefly eggs has not been reported previously. The tomato leaf bioassay produced reliable and repeatable results for whitefly toxicity studies and predicted that effective whitefly control can be achieved with sucrose octanoate at recommended application rates. Additional studies are warranted to determine if this biorational pesticide has application in commercial tomato production.