Silverleaf Whitefly Studies: Effects of Trichome Density and Leaf Shape

Abstract

We examined nine upland cotton cultivars in 2000 to determine silverleaf whitefly (SLW)-cotton leaf trichome relationships. The hairy leaf cultivar Stoneville 474 had significantly higher numbers of SLW eggs, nymphs and adults compared to eight other smooth leaf cotton cultivars. The top young leaves on main stem terminals had fewer SLW eggs, nymphs and adults, but higher numbers of trichomes compared with older leaves. Among the eight smooth leaf cultivars, the four okra leaf cultivars as a group had fewer SLW eggs, nymphs and adults compared with the four normal leaf cultivars.