Population Ecology and Spatial Distribution of Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) on Brinjal | Chapter 4 | Recent Research Advances in Biology Vol. 6

Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), a common insect that feeds on plants, is a member of the Aleyrodidae family of the order Homoptera. One of the major factors that has attracted whitefly in the studied area is the quantity of food source, especially brinjal. In reality, whitefly's ability to fly allows them to quickly search for food. This may promote whitefly reproduction in large numbers, resulting in a serious infestation in the fields. Many farmers are reluctant to grow brinjal after a bad experience with whitefly infestations, which resulted in a complete crop loss of brinjal fruits. There is currently no information on the population dynamics of whiteflies on brinjal. As a result, the population of immature whitefly was calculated in this study, and the population was sampled and predicted precisely through spatial distribution on brinjal plant before an intervention programme could be implemented. The research was carried out at the Field Laboratory of Universiti Teknologi MARA's Faculty of Applied Science in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. Except for the upper stratum, the research on the population of whitefly larvae on brinjal plants covered all plant strata. In the first and second croppings of brinjal plants, whitefly populations were aggregated (Taylor's Power Law Calculate). Whitefly populations were significantly aggregated for both seasons, especially in the middle strata of brinjal plants. The total number of whitefly larvae was found to be most abundant and can be predicted precisely in the middle stratum of the brinjal plants, according to the findings. As a result, these studies are appropriate for developing a thorough understanding of the insect population, which could aid in the development of an effective pest management programme and crop improvement strategy.

Author (s) Details

Z. Mohd Rasdi
Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology, Universiti Teknologi MARA Melaka, 77300, Melaka, Malaysia.

I. Fauziah
Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology, Universiti Teknologi MARA Melaka, 77300, Melaka, Malaysia.

K. Fairuz
Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology, Universiti Teknologi MARA Melaka, 77300, Melaka, Malaysia.

M. S. Mohd Saiful
Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology, Universiti Teknologi MARA Melaka, 77300, Melaka, Malaysia.

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