Effects of different fertilization levels of tomato plants on population density and biometrics of the cotton whitefly , Bemisia tabaci ( Gennadius ) ( Hemiptera : Sternorrhyncha : Aleyrodidae ) under greenhouse conditions

The application of soil nutrients enhances plant growth and thus improves the yield of crops. However, improved vegetative growth makes plants more attractive to phytophagous insects. The present study was conducted to assess the effect of supplying tomato plants with different levels of NPK fertilizer (ammonium nitrate, super phosphate and potassium sulfate) on the population density of Bemisia tabaci adults, total protein content (TPC) of emerged adults, surface area of the pupal exuviae (SAPE), preference of B. tabaci females for egg laying and tomato leaf thickness under greenhouse conditions. Obtained data proved that there was a positive correlation between NPK concentrations added to tomato plants and the percentage of the attracted B. tabaci adults. Adding sub-recommended dosages (0 or 0.5X) of NPK decreased the percentages of population density of B. tabaci by about 48.30% or 38.09% respectively compared with that recorded after adding recommended dosage; while adding over-recommended dosage (2X) of NPK increased the population density of B. tabaci by about 26.53%. A significant positive correlation among the total protein content of whitefly adults and different levels of NPK fertilization of tomato plants was recorded. The mean TPC of B. tabaci adults emerged from immature stages reared on non-fertilized tomato plants was 0.0219±4.8 mg/insect, while the mean TCP of whitefly adults emerged from immature stages reared on tomato plants supplied with a double recommended level of NPK fertilizer was 0.038±8.3 mg/insect. On the other hand, pupal exuviae of B. tabaci developed on different NPK fertilized tomato plants were larger than those reared on non-fertilized plants. The mean SAPE of whiteflies reared on tomato plants fertilized with doubled NPK recommended dosage was 0.41±0.01mm, while the mean SAPE of those reared on non-fertilized plants was 0.31±0.01mm. Different levels of NPK fertilizer increased the leaf thickness of tomato plants. The mean leaf thickness of tomato plants supplied with double recommended dosage of NPK was increased by about 216.66% more than that of nonfertilized tomato plants. The effects of different NPK fertilization levels on fecundity of whitefly females and the egg hatchability were studied. The mean number of daily laid eggs by B. tabaci females fed on tomato plants supplied with a double recommended dosage of NPK was significantly increased by about 244.44% more than the mean number of daily laid eggs by whitefly females fed on non-fertilized plants. On the other hand, different NPK fertilization levels did not affect hatchability. The obtained results showed that adding recommended dosage of NPK to tomato plants is an obligatory issue to minimize the infestation with the cotton whitefly B. tabaci.

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