Prevention of the spread of tomato yellow leaf curl virus transmitted by Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Homoptera, Aleyrodidae) in Israel

Abstract

AbstractIn the Jordan Valley of Israel, spread of tomato yellow leaf curl virus in tomatoes by Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) was delayed by three field treatments: (1) a straw mulch at the time of sowing; (2) sprays every four days with azinphos-methyl or methidathion; and (3) a combined treatment of a straw mulch after germination plus azinphos-methyl sprays at four-day intervals starting ten days after germination. The protective effect of straw mulch lasted about three weeks, and then sharply declined. In laboratory tests adult whiteflies were attracted more to straw than to tomato leaves, and more to fresh (yellow) straw than old (grey) straw exposed to field conditions for 25 days.