CHEMONICS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Whitefly research
During the past several years, Bemisia tabaci Genn., also known as the cotton, sweet potato, or tobacco whitefly, has emerged as a devastating pest and virus vector throughout the Americas, heavily damaging horticultural and floricultural crops and posing a major threat to greenhouse production of ornamentals and cut flowers, as well as to the vegetable transport industry.
Brown, J. K. · 1993
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Abstract
This report outlines the history, taxonomy, and colonization behavior of B. tabaci in the Americas. Of particular concern is the new `B" biotype of B. tabaci, which has a wider host range than the "A" biotype and now predominates in the sunbelt states of the United States as well as in Puerto Rico, Mexico, and the Caribbean Basin. In the United States, the "B" biotype has apparently displaced the indigenous "A" biotype in less than 3 years and the resulting damage -- from both whitefly feeding and whitefly-transmitted geminiviruses -- is estimated in the millions of dollars. The transformation of B. tabaci from an indigenous insect population to a major pest and important virus vector is likely due to changes in local and regional agricultural practices, the expansion of irrigated monoculture, extended growing seasons, the introduction of and subsequent resistance of whiteflies to new agrochemicals, and the increase in worldwide transport of plants and plant products. The report also reviews a 5-year workplan for a whitefly research initiative, with emphasis on Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Nicaragua.
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