Research and Action Plan for Sweetpotato Whitefly

Frank L. Carter


 
ABSTRACT

The sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, is a serious pest of cultivated crops in South and Central America, the West Indies, Asia, Africa and Southern Europe. It is known to attack 150 plant species in the U.S. and about 500 worldwide. It has been present in the U.S. since 1894 when it was found in Florida and it has been reported on U.S. cotton since 1920. However, the biology and behavior of this species began to change in 1986 when populations exploded in poinsettia greenhouses in Florida. In 1987 and '88, field tomato crops were heavily infested. Whiteflies on cotton in the lower desert valleys of California and Western Arizona suddenly began to develop extremely high populations, defoliate plants, and cause noticeable yield losses. Based on these differences and biochemical tests, a new strain -- called the "poinsettia or "B" Strain -- was described. Newspapers last week carried stories which argued that it is a new species entirely. Whatever the case, it has essentially displaced the "A" Strain, or "cotton" whitefly. The "B" strain is being taken very seriously because of its high reproductive potential, wide host range, its relative mobility, the lack of effective chemical or biological controls, its destructive potential and its impact on cotton stickiness. This presentation will highlight approaches taken to develop solutions and will focus on a description of the problem, plans for research, and highlights of progress in research and management.



Reprinted from 1993 Proceedings Beltwide Cotton Conferences pp. 120 - 121
©National Cotton Council, Memphis TN

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Document last modified Sunday, Dec 6 1998