Okra-leaf cultivars and lines were colonized with fewer whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring, adults, eggs and nymphs compared to normal-leaf cultivars. The distance from underleaf surfaces of cotton leaves to the centers of nearest minor vascular bundles was negatively correlated with adult, egg and nymphal densities on leaves for all genotypes with exception of the Australian breeding line 89013-114. Our results suggest that okra-leaf and distance from underleaf surfaces to the center of nearest minor vascular bundles of cotton leaves are genetic traits that have potential for breeding whitefly resistant upland cotton cultivars.