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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Charleston, South Carolina » Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #207930
Title: Resistance of Citrullus Colocynthis to Whiteflies and Spidermites

Author
item Levi, Amnon
item Simmons, Alvin
item LOPEZ, R - CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
item Kousik, Chandrasekar - Shaker
item SHEPARD, M - CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
item Jackson, D
item Harrison Jr, Howard
item EDELSTIEN, M - ARO, ISRAEL
item PALEVSKY, E - ARO, ISRAEL
item TADMOR, K - ARO, ISREAL

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/15/2007
Publication Date: 6/15/2007
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.

Interpretive Summary:

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.