The impact of nitrogen fertilization of tomato on feeding site selection and oviposition by Trialeurodes vaporariorum

Abstract

Tomato plants, Lycopersicon esculentum Miller cv ‘Tres Cantos’, were supplied with high (308 ppm), medium (140 ppm) and low (84 ppm) nitrogen doses in order to determine the influence of nitrogen fertilization on feeding and oviposition site selection by greenhouse whitefly adults, T. vaporariorum (Westwood). The nitrogen and water content was higher in plants supplied with 308 N ppm than in plants with medium or low nitrogen doses and no differences were found in soluble sugar content. The leaves of the upper plant stratum (leaves 1–5) had the greatest nitrogen and water content, independent of the nitrogen dose applied. The plants were exposed to T. vaporariorum adults into a greenhouse under two current (late autumn‐winter and spring‐early summer) situations of the tomato crop in the Mediterranean area. The distribution of whitefly adults on the plants was affected by the nitrogen dose in both experimental conditions, the number of adults was higher on the plants supplied with high nitrogen dose. Within plants, adult distribution was affected by leaf position, the upper plant stratum being preferred for feeding. Whitefly females selected for oviposition and laid more eggs on plants and leaves of plants with higher nitrogen and water contents. We conclude that whitefly host selection for feeding and ovipositing are related to differences in nitrogen and water content of the host plant.

Modulating infestation rate of white fly (Bemicia tabaci) on okra (Hibiscus esculentus L.) by nitrogen application

“…Moreover, an increase in number of eggs and nymphs were dose dependent (Tables 3, 4). These results are quite ns Non-significant * Significant at 0.05 level ** Significant at 0.01 level *** Significant at 0.001 level similar to earlier findings in which it was observed that increasing supply of nitrogen increased the population of whitefly (Blua and Toscano 1994;Jauset et al 1998Jauset et al , 2000Bi et al 2001Bi et al , 2003. From the results of the present study it is clear that the relationship between number of eggs and number of nymphs and days of infestation is almost sublinear.…”

“…2; Tables 3, 4). These results can be supported by the findings of Jauset et al (1998) who reported that aphids and whitefly females aggregated and laid more eggs on leaves/plants with the highest nitrogen and water content. Likewise, Bi et al (2001) found that peak populations of whitefly adults and nymphs, as well as honeydew production, increased in response to increasing nitrogen levels in large plots of cotton.…”

Nitrogen and water limitations in tomato plants trigger negative bottom-up effects on the omnivorous predator Macrolophus pygmaeus

“…Plant quality can have strong effects on herbivores (Inbar et al 2001;Huberty and Denno 2004;Chen et al 2010;Mody et al 2009;Gutbrodt et al 2011), e.g., water and nitrogen limitations to tomato plants negatively affect T. absoluta fitness (Han et al 2014). Besides the alteration in prey quality, the effects of omnivorous predator on a given pest may be influenced by other factors such as the feeding site selection and oviposition behavior in herbivores and omnivores due to varying plant quality (Jauset et al 1998;Groenteman et al 2006). Overall, the global impact that sub-optimal water and nitrogen resources (when applied to plants) may have on a given pest would depend on (i) bottom-up effect(s) on the pest itself, and (ii) both direct bottom-up effects on omnivorous predator, as well as indirect (cascading) effect through modification of actual prey food quality.…”

Preference and performance of a willow-feeding leaf beetle: soil nutrient and flooding effects on host quality

“…ANOVA results are given above the graphs and bars =1 SEM flooded conditions that we found is consistent with numerous other studies. For example, nutrient addition has been shown to increase oviposition by cabbage butterflies and whiteflies on their hosts (Letourneau and Fox 1989;Jauset 1998). Soil fertility also appears to influence herbivore abundances in field settings.…”

“…In this study, we examine the effects of resource availability (nutrients and water) on plant traits, on host selection, and on the performance of adult and larval leaf beetles. The availability of resources (e.g., nutrients, water, light) is a key determinant of plant quality and herbivore preference and performance (Tisdale and Wagner 1991;Mensah and Madden 1992;Jauset et al 1998;Koricheva et al 1998;Mutikainen et al 2000). Moreover, these factors often interact to alter plant suitability to herbivores (Larsson et al 1986;Coleman and Jones 1988;Tisdale and Wagner 1991).…”