Thirteen squash genotypes were evaluated in relation to attractiveness and oviposition preference of Trialeurodes vaporariorum (West.) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) under field and greenhouse conditions. In the field, two experiments were carried out, one being with bush squash and the other with summer squash genotypes. Plant infestation occurs naturally after seedling transplanting. By counting adults on the abaxial surfaces of the leaves, in the bush squash experiment, the hybrid 'Arlika' showed the lowest attractiveness; in the summer squash experiment, no difference was observed among genotypes. Regarding eggs counting, 'Arlika' (bush squash experiment), 'Atlas', 'Sandy', 'Barbara', 'Baianinha' and 'Caravela' (summer squash experiment) presented nonpreference for oviposition. Oviposition was also evaluated in two no-choice experiments, with artificial infestation, under greenhouse conditions. In both, the least preferred genotypes for oviposition in the free-choice test maintained the nonpreference, demonstrating that the resistance is stable.
Insecta; Aleyrodidae; greenhouse whitefly; Cucurbita spp.; host plant resistance
