Population Dynamics of the Greenhouse Whitefly [Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) Aleyrodidae, Hemiptera] in Broccoli Greenhouse in Malatya, Turkey

Abstract

Malatya is called the apricot capital and due to the recent frost problems in the province, producers have been unable to take any products from apricot trees for some years. Therefore, farmers have turned to growing vegetables. In greenhouse production, many pests significantly affect the yield and quality of vegetables. One of the species that cause significant damage to vegetables in our region is greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum [Westw.] (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). T. vaporariorum is a widely distributed pest of ornamental and horticultural plants. This species has a very wide host range, with over 300 species recorded as hosts. In this study, population fluctuation of the T. vaporariorum encountered in greenhouse broccoli production were investigated in the Malatya province. Yellow sticky traps suspended in the greenhouse were brought to the laboratory once a week and the greenhouse whitefly adults on it were counted, and also pests were counted on the leaves once a week. First year white fly adults started to be seen on the 23rd of October with a density of 0.3 adult / leaf, second year with a density of 0.2 adult / leaf on November 4. First year, reached the highest level with 7.2 adult + nymph/leaf and second year 5.8 adult + nymph / leaf.