A new host plant species for the cassava biotype of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hom., Aleyrodidae)

Abstract:  The cassava biotype of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) is known to colonize cassava ( Manihot esculenta Crantz) whereas the sweet potato biotype colonizes various plant and weed species but not cassava. Both biotypes have Solanum melongena L. and Solanum aethiopicum L. as common host plant species. This study shows for the first time that both biotypes can successfully feed, survive and reproduce on a new host plant species, Nicotiana debneyi Domin. These findings have important implications for better understanding the disease epidemics, related to whitefly transmissible geminiviruses.