Resumo

MORALES V, P.  e  CERMELI, M.. Trap crop evaluation in tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) in the control of whiteflies Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). Rev. Fac. Agron. [online]. 2002, vol.19, n.1, pp.9-22. ISSN 0378-7818.

The sweet-potato whitefly (SPW) Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is an important pest of tomato Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., in Venezuela. Excessive use of chemicals and environmental damage is cause of concern demanding alternative methods of control. One of them is the utilization of trap crops to reduce populations levels of SPW. Trap crops of cucumbers (Cucumis sativus (L.)), sesami (Sesamun indicum L.), beans (Phaseolus vulgari L.) and melon (Cucumis melo L.) planted in and around tomato plots were tested under field and greenhouse conditions to observe their influence on the incidence of the SPW on tomato. Random block designs with 5 treatments and 4 replicates were used in the field and greenhouse. Number of eggs, live and death nymphs per leaflet of tomato and sq. cm of trap crops were evaluated 7 times in the field, and 5 times in greenhouses. Yields were recorded at the end of the experiment. No significant differences were observed in the number of eggs, nymphs and yields of tomato, in field and greenhouse. Statistical differences were observed among trap crops. Sesami, melon, beans and cucumber were not effective as trap crops to control whitefly populations in their different growth phases in tomatoes.

Palavras-chave : Trap crops; Bemisia tabaci; Lycopersicon esculentum; whiteflies.