Transmission of tomato yellow leaf curl begomovirus by Bemisia tabaci to imidacloprid-treated and untreated tomato plants
Control of tomato yellow leaf curl begomovirus (TYLCV - EPPO A2 quarantine pest) is based on breeding of tolerant tomatoes, use of fine-meshed nets and chemical control of the insect vector, Bemisia tabaci (EPPO A2 quarantine pest). Studies were done in Israel to assess the transmission of TYLCV to imidacloprid-treated and untreated tomato plants. Viruliferous Bemisia tabaci biotype B were caged with treated or untreated tomato plants in a gauze house. Results showed that treated and untreated plants could be contaminated by TYLCV. Viruliferous insects had enough time to inoculate TYLCV to imidacloprid-treated plants before they die. The authors concluded that the use of insecticide to control TYLCV is effective only if it is applied on a large area. Invasion of a treated field by large amounts of viruliferous whiteflies originating from non treated areas will lead to high level of infection.
Sources
Rubinstein, G.; Morin, S.; Czosnek, H. (1999) Transmission of tomato yellow leaf curl geminivirus to imidacloprid treated tomato plants by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae).
Journal of Economic Entomology, 92(3), 658-662.