Studies on Bemisia tabaci biotypes in Spain
During 1993, 94 and 95, studies have been carried out on populations of Bemisia tabaci (EPPO A2 quarantine pest) from different areas of the Mediterranean region of Spain and of the Canary Islands. The aim was to study the biotypes present in these populations. The ability to produce silverleaf symptoms on squash and PCR techniques were used to differentiate the B biotype from the non-B biotypes. In addition, two populations of biotype B from US were used as control. Results showed that the B biotype of B. tabaci is indeed present in Spain. Non-B biotypes are also present. The B-biotype was observed in the regions of Barcelona (cabbage), Málaga (tomato), Madrid (hibiscus), Tenerife (poinsettia), Níjar (courgette). The authors pointed out that further studies are necessary to establish a spatial distribution of the B biotype in the Mediterranean region of Spain and in other regions of the country.
Sources
Guirao, P.; Cenis, J.L.; Beitia, F. (1996) Determinacíon de la presencia en España de biotipos de Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius).
Phytoma-España, no. 81, 30-34.