The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, is a destructive and invasive pest of many horticultural plants including poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima). Outbreaks of B. tabaci cause serious damage by direct feeding on phloem sap, and spreading 100+ plant viruses to crops. Bemisia tabaci were observed more frequently on green than red poinsettia leaves, and the factors responsible for this are unknown. Here, we investigated the development rate, survivorship, fecundity of B. tabaci feeding on green versus red leaves, as well as the leaves' volatiles, trichome density, anthocyanin content, soluble sugars, and free amino acids. Compared to red leaves, B. tabaci on green leaves showed increased fecundity, a higher female sex ratio, and survival rate. The green color alone was more attractive to B. tabaci than red. Red leaves of poinsettia contained more phenol, and panaginsene in their volatiles. Alpha-copaene and caryophyllene were more abundant in the volatiles of poinsettia green leaves. Leaf trichome density, soluble sugars and free amino acids were higher in green than red leaves of poinsettia, anthocyanin was lower in green than red leaves. Overall, green leaves of poinsettia were more susceptible and attractive to B. tabaci. The morphological and chemical variation between red and green leaves also differed; further investigation may reveal how these traits affect B. tabaci's responses.
How to translate text using browser tools
4 June 2023
Population changes of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) on different colored poinsettia leaves with different trichome densities and chemical compositions
Pei-Qiong Shi,
Jing Liu,
Jun-Xi Ye,
Ting-Zhen Zhang,
Yu-Chun Lin,
Qiao-Bin Lao,
Bao-Li Qiu,
Hong-Kai Zhou,
Jin Xu
ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE
It is not available for individual sale.
This article is only available to subscribers.
It is not available for individual sale.
It is not available for individual sale.
Journal of Economic Entomology
Vol. 116 • No. 4
August 2023
Vol. 116 • No. 4
August 2023
plant morphology
plant nutrition
poinsettia
secondary metabolite
whitefly