<i>Bemisia tabaci</i> (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae): What Relationships with and Morpho-Physiological Effects on the Plants It Develops on?
Although many crops have developed several adaptation mechanisms that allow them to defend against limiting factors, some biotic and abiotic stresses may cause reversible or irreversible changes in plants. Among the biotic stresses, the whitefly <i>Bemisia tabaci</i> (Gennadius) (Hemipte...
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MDPI AG
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/4/351 |
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| author | Alessia Farina Antonio C. Barbera Giovanni Leonardi Giuseppe E. Massimino Cocuzza Pompeo Suma Carmelo Rapisarda |
| author_facet | Alessia Farina Antonio C. Barbera Giovanni Leonardi Giuseppe E. Massimino Cocuzza Pompeo Suma Carmelo Rapisarda |
| author_sort | Alessia Farina |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Although many crops have developed several adaptation mechanisms that allow them to defend against limiting factors, some biotic and abiotic stresses may cause reversible or irreversible changes in plants. Among the biotic stresses, the whitefly <i>Bemisia tabaci</i> (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is probably one of the main important pests that negatively affect several vegetable crops that are grown in greenhouses. The present study evaluated its impact on the morphology and physiology of two solanaceous plants, i.e., tomato (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> L.) and eggplant (<i>S. melongena</i> L.), under laboratory conditions. The results showed that, for tomatoes, plant height, shoot dry weight, leaf area, and indirect chlorophyll content were strongly reduced in infested plants, compared to the uninfested control, by 39.36%, 32.37%, 61.01%, and 37.85%, respectively. The same has been shown for eggplant, although the reduction percentages of plant height, root dry weight, and indirect chlorophyll content were less marked (i.e., 16.15%, 31.65%, and 11.39%, respectively). These results could represent interesting information for a better understanding of the <i>B. tabaci</i> influence on plant growth, as well as for the development of management strategies to successfully control its infestations in a cropping system. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:31:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6991ff166e874309be2c9dd8f2fd32d7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:31:10Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-6991ff166e874309be2c9dd8f2fd32d72023-11-30T21:17:59ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502022-04-0113435110.3390/insects13040351<i>Bemisia tabaci</i> (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae): What Relationships with and Morpho-Physiological Effects on the Plants It Develops on?Alessia Farina0Antonio C. Barbera1Giovanni Leonardi2Giuseppe E. Massimino Cocuzza3Pompeo Suma4Carmelo Rapisarda5Applied Entomology Section, Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, 95123 Catania, ItalyAgronomy and Field Crops Section, Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, 95123 Catania, ItalyAgronomy and Field Crops Section, Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, 95123 Catania, ItalyApplied Entomology Section, Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, 95123 Catania, ItalyApplied Entomology Section, Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, 95123 Catania, ItalyApplied Entomology Section, Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, 95123 Catania, ItalyAlthough many crops have developed several adaptation mechanisms that allow them to defend against limiting factors, some biotic and abiotic stresses may cause reversible or irreversible changes in plants. Among the biotic stresses, the whitefly <i>Bemisia tabaci</i> (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is probably one of the main important pests that negatively affect several vegetable crops that are grown in greenhouses. The present study evaluated its impact on the morphology and physiology of two solanaceous plants, i.e., tomato (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> L.) and eggplant (<i>S. melongena</i> L.), under laboratory conditions. The results showed that, for tomatoes, plant height, shoot dry weight, leaf area, and indirect chlorophyll content were strongly reduced in infested plants, compared to the uninfested control, by 39.36%, 32.37%, 61.01%, and 37.85%, respectively. The same has been shown for eggplant, although the reduction percentages of plant height, root dry weight, and indirect chlorophyll content were less marked (i.e., 16.15%, 31.65%, and 11.39%, respectively). These results could represent interesting information for a better understanding of the <i>B. tabaci</i> influence on plant growth, as well as for the development of management strategies to successfully control its infestations in a cropping system.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/4/351whiteflyvegetable cropsplant morphologyplant physiologytrophic interactions |
| spellingShingle | Alessia Farina Antonio C. Barbera Giovanni Leonardi Giuseppe E. Massimino Cocuzza Pompeo Suma Carmelo Rapisarda <i>Bemisia tabaci</i> (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae): What Relationships with and Morpho-Physiological Effects on the Plants It Develops on? Insects whitefly vegetable crops plant morphology plant physiology trophic interactions |
| title | <i>Bemisia tabaci</i> (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae): What Relationships with and Morpho-Physiological Effects on the Plants It Develops on? |
| title_full | <i>Bemisia tabaci</i> (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae): What Relationships with and Morpho-Physiological Effects on the Plants It Develops on? |
| title_fullStr | <i>Bemisia tabaci</i> (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae): What Relationships with and Morpho-Physiological Effects on the Plants It Develops on? |
| title_full_unstemmed | <i>Bemisia tabaci</i> (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae): What Relationships with and Morpho-Physiological Effects on the Plants It Develops on? |
| title_short | <i>Bemisia tabaci</i> (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae): What Relationships with and Morpho-Physiological Effects on the Plants It Develops on? |
| title_sort | i bemisia tabaci i hemiptera aleyrodidae what relationships with and morpho physiological effects on the plants it develops on |
| topic | whitefly vegetable crops plant morphology plant physiology trophic interactions |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/4/351 |
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