Pests

Whitefly on Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum L.

The whitefly is a dangerous tomato pest that causes plant depletion, the development of sooty mold on fruits, and the transmission of viral diseases, such as tomato yellow leaf curl virus.

In the reference 14 varieties crop Tomato, where this is mentioned in the description.

Greenhouse whitefly and tobacco whitefly are widespread on the crop. Insects feed on cell sap on the underside of leaves, leading to chlorosis, curling, and wilting. The 'honeydew' they excrete triggers the appearance of a black sooty mold coating, which critically reduces the marketability of the produce.

Breeding for resistance to the pest relies on the introgression of genes from wild tomato species, such as Solanum galapagense and Solanum habrochaites, which often use leaf trichome mechanisms to hinder insect feeding. The Mi-1 gene, originally known for its resistance to nematodes, also demonstrates effectiveness against tobacco whitefly.

General information about the subject — on the page Whitefly.

Sources8

Varieties of Tomato mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.