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30 September 2019 Effect of BAM-FX® in Developing a Management Program to Control Major Insect Pests of Tomato: Sweetpotato Whitefly (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), and their Transmitted Viruses
Dakshina Seal, Rafia Khan, Wagnar Vendrame, Christine Waddill
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Abstract

BAM-FX® is a bioavailable mineral system that helps in moving necessary mineral ions to the site of deficiency in a plant system, resulting in increased vigor of plants. In the present study, this product was evaluated for its potential effect on improving management of sweetpotato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci [Gennadius]; Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) (biotype B) and thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in tomato. Seven treatments were evaluated, 4 containing BAM-FX, without N-P-K fertilizer, applied either by soil drench or foliar application, with or without pesticide application. Two treatments included standard N-P-K fertilizer, without BAM-FX application, with or without pesticide application. An additional treatment included BAM-FX, N-P-K fertilizer, and pesticide application. The study was conducted in research plots at the Tropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, in Homestead, Florida, USA, during 2 vegetable growing seasons in 2014 and 2016. Plants treated with BAM-FX had significantly lower incidence of sweetpotato whitefly compared to the control plants without BAM-FX and pesticides. Mean numbers of sweetpotato whitefly eggs and nymphs also were lower significantly in plants treated with BAM-FX than the non-treated control. Mean numbers of melon thrips adults (Thrips palmi Karny; Thysanoptera: Thripidae) were consistently fewer in BAM-FX plus pesticide treated plots than the N-P-K treated plots. Mean numbers of common blossom thrips (Frankliniella schultzei Trybom; Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and western flowers thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis [Pergande]; Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in BAM-FX treated plants did not differ from the N-P-K treated plots. Tomato yellow leaf curl virus incidence was significantly lower in BAM-FX treated plots than the untreated control plots. Application of pesticides and BAM-FX in combination with N-P-K reduced tomato yellow leaf curl virus on a majority of the sampling dates. However, tomato chlorotic spot virus incidence was inconsistently lower in all BAM-FX and N-P-K treated plots compared to the untreated control. Plant height, width, and fruit numbers were significantly higher in N-P-K treated plants compared to BAM-FX treated plants. BAM-FX alone did not increase the mean numbers of fruits, but it increased fruit production when used in a program with N-P-K and effective pesticides. Nutrient levels in the leaves of treated plants were within the normal range. However, BAM-FX showed potential in reducing sweetpotato whitefly and melon thrips and their transmitted viruses, which should be explored to improve pest management programs in tomato and other vegetable and ornamental crops.

Dakshina Seal, Rafia Khan, Wagnar Vendrame, and Christine Waddill "Effect of BAM-FX® in Developing a Management Program to Control Major Insect Pests of Tomato: Sweetpotato Whitefly (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), and their Transmitted Viruses," Florida Entomologist 102(3), 596-606, (30 September 2019). https://doi.org/10.1653/024.102.0325
Published: 30 September 2019
KEYWORDS
management
tomato yellow leaf curl virus
Tospovirus
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