Reproduction of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) B biotype in maize fields (Zea mays L.) in Brazil

BACKGROUND Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) was observed to have completed its reproductive cycle from the egg to the adult on maize (Zea mays L.). Field and screenhouse studies were carried out to investigate the durability of this putative and unprecedented adaptation to a grass hos...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pest management science 2016-11, Vol.72 (11), p.2181-2187
Main Authors: Quintela, Eliane D, Abreu, Aluana G, Lima, Julyana F dos S, Mascarin, Gabriel M, Santos, Jardel B dos, Brown, Judith K
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agriculture
Aleyrodidae
Animals
Bemisia tabaci
Brazil
Corn
Developmental stages
developmental time
Hemiptera
Hemiptera - genetics
Hemiptera - physiology
Herbivory
Host plants
host range
Leaves
mitochondrial COI gene
Oviposition
phenotypic plasticity
Poaceae
Reproduction
Reproductive cycle
Seedlings
Sequence Analysis, DNA
Soybeans
Zea mays
Zea mays - growth & development
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Summary:BACKGROUND Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) was observed to have completed its reproductive cycle from the egg to the adult on maize (Zea mays L.). Field and screenhouse studies were carried out to investigate the durability of this putative and unprecedented adaptation to a grass host. RESULTS Analysis of the mitochondrial COI gene sequence identified the maize‐associated B. tabaci as the exotic B biotype (major clade North Africa–Mediterranean–Middle East). Results showed that whiteflies migrated from soybean crops and successfully established in maize plants. Females exhibited a preference for oviposition primarily on the first and second leaves of maize, but were also able to colonise developing leaves. A high, natural infestation on maize (193.3 individuals, all developmental stages) was observed within a 7.1 cm2 designated ‘observation area’. Whiteflies collected from naturally infested maize leaves and allowed to oviposit on maize seedlings grown in a screenhouse developed from egg to adulthood in 28.6 ± 0.2 days. CONCLUSION This is the first report of the B biotype completing its development on maize plants. This surprising anomaly indicates that the B biotype is capable of adapting to monocotyledonous host plants, and importantly, broadens the host range to include at least one species in the Poaceae. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
ISSN:1526-498X
1526-4998
DOI:10.1002/ps.4259