Bemisia tabaci: A sole vector of Cotton leaf curl virus: Its host range, development and relation to CLCuV incidence

Working group session: 
Comparative Genomics and Bioinformatics
Presentation type: 
poster
Authors: 
Saeed, Rabia; Rafiq, Muhammad; Naveed, Muhammad; Tahir jan, Muhammad
Presenter: 
Saeed, Rabia
Correspondent: 
Saeed, Rabia
Abstract: 
Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera: Cicadellidae), a vector of cotton leaf curl virus (CLCuV), is one of the key pest of cotton in Pakistan. Studies were conducted to access its host plants, survival on CLCuV affected plants along with impact of time of sowing on population buildup. About 50 plants were recorded as major hosts in Multan District including 17 crops and vegetables, 5 fruits and forest plants, 14 each ornamental and weeds. Moreover 94 plants were recorded as minor host plants. B. tabci prevalence was higher on crops and vegetables, while weeds were found to be less preferred host plants. Survival from egg to adult stage was highest on Malvestrum coromendelianum (50 %) followed by Gossypium hirsutum (31%) under Lab. conditions at 25±2°C and 70-75% RH. Under field conditions fecundity rate on 10 cm2 leaf portion of Solanum melongena was highest (4.2 eggs) followed by Xanthium strumarium (3.2 eggs), Lantana camara and G. hirsutum (2.1 eggs) respectively. The least fecundity rate was recorded on Citrullus lanatus (1.3 eggs) and Achyranthis aspersa (1.9 eggs). Hatchability rate on these plants was 70 – 91 %, pupation rate 62 – 81 %, adult emergence was 77 – 88 %. Total development was in the range of 51 – 72 %. Survival rate was 73 to 60 % on healthy and CLCuV stressed cotton plant respectively. Life table of B. tabaci on cotton crop showed that out of 1035 eggs, 26 % was desiccated and 65 % hatched from which about 36 % nymphs were either killed due to predation or parasitism or missed and only 64 % were pupated. About 38 % of the total pupae were either dried or predated and 62 % hatched as adult. This means that about 73 % population of the pest killed and 27 % developed into adults. Time of sowing had profound impact on B. tabaci, with maximum population on mid-May sown cotton as compared to mid-March and mid-April sown cotton. CLCuv incidence also found to be 100% in mid-May sown cotton. This information may help to devise management strategies for B. tabaci to minimize incidence of CLCuV.