Acylsugars of Wild Tomato Lycopersicon pennellii Alters Settling and Reduces Oviposition of Bemisia argentifolii (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae)

Abstract

Acylsugars, the primary components of the exudate secreted by type IV trichomes of Lycopersicon pennellii (Carr.) D'Arcy LA716, mediate the resistance of this accession to silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii Bellows & Perring, n. sp. Reduction in the settling of the adult silverleaf whiteflies correlates with the concomitant increase in applied acylsugars. Ovipositor of B. argentifolii is also affected by acylsugars, resulting: in a reduction in the number of eggs and nymphs found; however, acylsugars do not affect hatching of nymphs. The threshold amount of acylsugars required for deterring settling and oviposition is below the amount of acylsugars (50-70 µg/cm2) required for control of other insects.