Distribution and population abundance of greenhouse whitefly Bemisia tabaci Genn (Hemiptera:Aleyrodidae) on Chrysanthemum

Abstract

Bemisia tabaci Genn. (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is a serious worldwide pest of greenhouse crops on horticultural commodities, especially in chrysanthemum. Besides being able to affect the plant vigor and reduce the quality of chrysanthemums, B. tabaci also transmits the plant virus. This study aims to determine the distribution and abundance of whitefly populations in six chrysanthemum cultivars (Sazeta, Nameswari, Cayapati, Yulimar, Kusuma Patria and Sabia) under glasshouse conditions. Numbers of whitefly adults, eggs, nymphs and pupa were observed every one week from the underside of the young, mature and old leaves. The total mean numbers of adults, eggs, nymphs and pupa were tested using one-way ANOVA with Tukey's test at p <0.05. Our results showed that the population distribution of B. tabaci adults in six chrysanthemum cultivars was higher in young leaves than mature and old leaves. Number of eggs and nymphs were higher in mature and old leaves. Whitefly abundance (adults, eggs, nymphs and pupa) on chrysanthemums cultivar Sabia were the highest, implies that there is a need search for appropriate control strategy so that the yield losses of chrysanthemum can be reduced.