Type-IV glandular trichomes disrupt the probing behavior of Bemisia tabaci MEAM1 and Tomato severe rugose virus inoculation in tomato plants

Bemisia tabaci is a widely spread vector of many viruses that cause serious diseases in many agricultural crops, including tomato. Considering the difficulties to control the whitefly and the virus transmission, the use of resistant tomato plants to the insect may promote an effective control of the vector and the virus transmission. The objective of this study was to determine the survivorship, inoculation of Tomato severe rugose virus (ToSRV) and the probing behavior of B . tabaci MEAM1 on three tomato genotypes: ‘Santa Clara’, susceptible to B . tabaci and ToSRV; ‘Ivety’, resistant to ToSRV; LA716, with a type-IV glandular trichome-based resistance to B . tabaci ; and to compare with the effects of the insecticide cyantraniliprole applied on the same genotypes. The results showed the resistance of LA716 caused a mortality above 95% on B . tabaci , interferes negatively on the probing behavior of the whiteflies, and can reduce ToSRV inoculation, similarly to what occurred in treatments with cyantraniliprole. Lower ToSRV severities occurred in ‘Ivety’ and in the cyantraniliprole-treated plants of the three genotypes tested. The association of LA716 and cyantraniliprole could promote additional effects on B . tabaci , suggesting these two control methods could be used to manage the pest.