Economic injury levels and sequential sampling plans for control decision‐making systems of Bemisia tabaci biotype B adults in watermelon crops

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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Decision‐making systems are essential parts of integrated pest management programs. The whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is a major pest of many crops, including watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), the second most consumed fruit worldwide. However, there are still no studies on decision‐making systems for B. tabaci on this crop. Thus, we aim to determine a decision‐making system to control B. tabaci biotype B on watermelon crops.RESULTS: The highest densities of B. tabaci biotype B reduced the yield of watermelon crops by up to 56%. Watermelon plants were more susceptible to the pest at the vegetative stage than at the reproductive stage. The economic injury levels of B. tabaci biotype B when watermelon prices were low, average, and high were respectively, 0.52, 0.21 and 0.13 adults leaf−1 at the vegetative stage, and 1.69, 0.69 and 0.44 adults leaf−1 at the reproductive stage. The sequential plans reached the same decisions as the conventional plan, and reduced the time and cost of sampling by up to 92.68%.CONCLUSION: The decision‐making systems determined in this study enable an expedited and proper decision to be made for controlling B. tabaci, biotype B and can be used in different price situations for watermelon and in crops at different phenological stages. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Funding Information
  • Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
  • Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
  • Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais

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