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Title: Alternate Hosts of the Whitefly from Tomato Fields in Southern Puerto Rico

Author
item BASTIDAS, HAROLD - UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO
item Pantoja, Alberto
item LUGO, MARIA - UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO
item STANSLY, PHIL - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

Submitted to: Journal of Agriculture of the University of Puerto Rico
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/8/2008
Publication Date: 4/20/2008
Citation: Bastidas, H., Pantoja, A., Lugo, M., Stansly, P. 2008. Alternate Hosts of the Whitefly from Tomato Fields in Southern Puerto Rico. Journal of Agriculture of the University of Puerto Rico. 92(3-4):231-334.

Interpretive Summary: Alternate hosts of the silverleaf whitefly (WF) Bemisia tabacci, were studied in tomato fields in the south of Puerto Rico. Eighteen weed species were identified as alternate hosts of the WF. The prevalent weeds in the area are Triantema portulacastrum, Portulaca oleracea and Cleome viscose, but these two species had low densities of WF nymphs. The species, Boerhavia erecta and Momordica charantia displayed the highest mean number of nymphs per leaf. The genus Amaranthus, Boerhavia, Macroptilium and Sida are known WF alternate hosts and reservoirs of virus. WF densities in weeds exceeded the action threshold for tomato (1 nymph/leaf) suggesting that weed control is important in this area of the island. The information will help IPM practitioners in the area.

Technical Abstract: Alternate hosts of the silverleaf whitefly (WF) Bemisia tabacci, were studied in tomato fields in the south of Puerto Rico. Eighteen weed species were identified as alternate hosts of the WF. The prevalent weeds in the area are Triantema portulacastrum, Portulaca oleracea and Cleome viscose, but these two species had low densities of WF nymphs. The species, Boerhavia erecta and Momordica charantia displayed the highest mean number of nymphs per leaf. The genus Amaranthus, Boerhavia, Macroptilium and Sida are known WF alternate hosts and reservoirs of virus. WF densities in weeds exceeded the action threshold for tomato (1 nymph/leaf) suggesting that weed control is important in this area of the island. The information will help IPM practitioners in the area.