Looking for alternative methods of control to silverleaf whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) biotype B in tomato, attractiveness and oviposition preference tests were accomplished in greenhouse using fourteen aqueous extracts at 3% (weight/volume). The extracts were prepared with parts from Azadirachta indica,Trichilia pallida,Chenopodium ambrosioides,Piper nigrum,Melia azedarach,Ruta graveolens,Ricinus communis,Mentha pulegium,Tagetes erecta,Eucalyptus citriodora, Cymbopogon nardus and Coriandrum sativum. The most efficient extracts in greenhouse were also tested in laboratory to evaluate the possible systemic effect on whitefly nymphs. Tomato plants sprayed with extracts of leaves from M. pulegium, leaves and seeds from A. indica were less attractive to the adults of the insect. Plants sprayed with extracts of leaves from A. indica and leaves + branches from R. communis showed deterrent effects on the insect oviposition, reducing the number of eggs; in an opposite way, the extract of leaves from C. nardus stimulated the whitefly oviposition on the plants. The use of extracts in a systemic way did not affect the whitefly development period (egg-adult). The extracts of seeds and leaves from A. indica and leaves from M. pulegium increased the mortality of nymphs of B. tabaci biotype B.
Bemisia tabaci biotype B; Lycopersicon esculentum; botanical insecticides; attractiveness; deterrence; systemic effect
