Comparative biological features of cotton whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera : Aleyrodidae)‎ when reared on four host plants

Abstract EN

Cotton whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is a polyphagous devastating insect of numerous agronomic crops in Egypt.

Comparison between the biological features of B.

tabaci when reared on four vegetable plants, tomato, eggplant, cucumber and squash was established.

Data showed a non-significant difference for the egg incubation period of B.

tabaci on the investigated four vegetable plants.

The developmental time of B.

tabaci nymphal stage when fed on the different investigated diets was a significant longer period in tomato plant than other host plants (16.45 days).

However, the smallest period of nymphal stage was observed on eggplant (10.36 days), followed by squash (11.96 days) and cucumber (12.04 days) plants.

The accomplishment of B.

tabaci life cycle (egg - adults per day) was a longest on tomato being 20.26 days, but it was a shortest on eggplant (12.57 days).

In addition, a survival rate of B.

tabaci when reared on different tested host plants was higher on squash and eggplant plants (84% and 80%, respectively) than on other examined host plants.

Present data indicated that the net reproductive rate (Ro) was ranged from 27.081 on tomato to 52.560 on eggplant plants.

The present data also reflected the highest finite rate of increase (λ) on eggplant (1.2128), followed by squash plant (1.1788) and the lowest on tomato plant (1.1222), and followed by cucumber plant (1.1546).

The finite rate was ranged from 1.1222 – 1.2128, that means, B.

tabaci was able to increase the population (λ>1) on all tested host plants.

In the present study, the preference of whitefly influenced by the plant enzyme activities as well as Phenoloxidase and Peroxidase, as like, the B.

tabaci infestation increased by increased the polyphenoloxidase and peroxidase activities in host plant.

Moreover, the leaf phytochemical components influenced on the development of whitefly on the four tested vegetable plants.

Finally, B.

tabaci is obviously a greater host preference for eggplant and squash plants as compared to cucumber and tomato plants by documenting a short life and mortality.

Hence, one should consider the susceptibility of vegetable plants when planning the IPM program for B.

tabaci in Egypt.