Susceptibility of crop plants to Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) B-biotype (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in Central Queensland, Australia

Abstract

An assessment of 10 crop plants for susceptibility to 'Bemisia tabaci' (Gennadius) B-biotype (Silverleaf whitefly, SLW) was undertaken during the summer of 2001/2002 in central Queensland. Crops included in the assessment were chickpea, cowpea, lablab, mungbean, niger, peanut, sesame and soybean. Data on SLW abundance and preference ranking for each crop type are presented. Sesame was the most preferred for oviposition, mungbean was the least preferred while cowpea, peanut, niger, lablab and soybean were intermediate. Nymphs were more abundant on sesame, soybean and lablab than on mungbean, cowpea, niger and peanut. Chickpea was found to be unsuitable for SLW development. Crops such as sesame, soybean and lablab are likely to be high risk cropping options in parts of central Queensland where SLW is likely to become endemic.