1st Place: D3071: Performance of Bemisia tabaci MEAM1 (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) on weed and cultivated species

The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci MEAM1 (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), is one of the most invasive and destructive pests for agriculture worldwide. Whitefly populations are maintained throughout the year through continuous exploitation of different plant species and, in this context, weeds can serve as alternative hosts, making possible the permanence of populations in the field as well as migration to major crops. Besides, invasive plant species can also serve as inoculum source of whitefly-transmited viruses, favoring disease dissemination in agricultural fields. Thus, studies investigating B. tabaci performance on different hosts are highly relevant for a greater understanding of insect’s population dynamics, and may assist in directing management actions and eradication of the most suitable plants for the whitefly development. The present study assessed biological aspects of B. tabaci MEAM1 confined in 14 weed species commonly found in Brazilian agricultural fields, besides five cultivated species. It was verified that the species Ipomoea grandifolia, Solanum lycopersicum and Emilia sonchifolia required the shortest development periods (egg-adult) (23.90 to 24.67 days). High nymphal viability rates (98.33 to 80.83%) were observed in S. lycopersicum, Gossypium hirsutum, Raphanus raphanistrum, Glycine max, Amaranthus viridis, Euphorbia heterophylla, Commelina benghalensis, Galinsoga parviflora, Sida rhombifolia, E. sonchifolia, Merremia aegyptia and I. grandifolia, also indicating susceptibility. These species revealed to be suitable hosts for whitefly development and, with exception to the cultivated species, should receive greater attention in the field in order to avoid the presence of this pest over main crops.