Influence of Nitrogen/Potassium Ratios on Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) biotype B feeding and oviposition behavior

Abstract

Bemisia tabaci biotype B presently constitutes a great threat not only for the tomato crop but to several other crops. The objective of this research was to evaluate the influence of the plant nutrition with different ratios nitrogen/ potassium, on B. tabaci biotype B behavior for feeding and oviposition. The experiment was conducted at Escola de Agronomia e Engenharia de Alimentos/UFG, Goiania, Goias, Brasil. Tests with free and no-choice of the insect feeding were conducted. The first one was carried out on randomized blocks design and the second one with a completely randomized design. Each treatment had four replications, with one plant per pot. The treatments were the ratios nitrogen/potassium: 1/1, 2/1, 4/1, 8/1, 1/2, 1/4 and 1/8. Five evaluations on the observation of the behavior of B. tabaci biotype B in relation to the feeding preference were accomplished: 3, 27, 51, 75 and 99 hours after the insect infestation. Leaves were collected at four days after the insect infestation, and appraised in laboratory for oviposition analysis. The different ratios nitrogen/potassium used in the tomato fertilization did not induce any effect at the feeding or oviposition of B. tabaci biotype B behavior.