Assessment of physiological aspects of three tomato genotypes infested by Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) biotype B (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)

The performance of three tomato genotypes (PI 1134417, LA 716 and of Bruna VFN hybrid) was assessed during infestation by Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) biotype B, in relation to the physiological aspects of plants attacked and not attacked by the insect. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse at environmental temperature. Thirty-day-old plants were artificially infested with 100 insects/plant for ten days. The Bruna VFN hybrid was damaged physiologically with lower height and mean number of leaves per plant than in the non attacked plants, ten days after infestation. Also, it presented shorter root length and decrease in canopy and root dry matter when compared to the non attacked plants. The wild genotypes (PI 1344417 and LA 716) did not present physiological alteration due to attack from the insect.