The resistance of 24 potato genotypes to B. tabaci (Genn.) biotype B (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) was evaluated in five greenhouse experiments. The first experiment we evaluated the attractiveness and preference for oviposition in a free-choice test (randomized blocks, 24 treatments, and eight replications). In two other experiments we evaluated no-choice preference for oviposition (randomized blocks, six treatments, and ten replications). The whitefly egg-adult cycle was monitored using a statistical design in randomized blocks with five replications. Trichome density was evaluated in an experiment with 24 treatments and six replications, in a completely randomized design. In the free-choice test, potato genotypes NYL 235-4 and IAC-1966 were the most attractive to adults, while cultivars Achat, Aracy Ruiva, and Monte Bonito presented the lowest number of adults. Also in this assay, cultivars Achat, Ibituaçu, Panda, IAC-1966, and Agata presented the lowest number of eggs, while in the no-choice test, only cultivar Achat and IAC-1966 remained resistant. Consequently, for these two genotypes non-preference is the oviposition resistance mechanism. The egg-adult cycle varied from 21 days (cultivar Panda) to 22.5 days (clones IAC-1966 and NYL 235-4). The adult emergence varied from 91.2% (clone IAC-1966) to 99.3% (cultivar Ibituaçu). Clone NYL 235-4 had the greatest number of simple (ST) and glandular (GT) trichomes; while clone IAC-1966 had the lowest number of ST and, clone IAC-6290, of GT. There were significant correlations between adult attractiveness and oviposition preference; between oviposition preference and ST density; and between oviposition preference and GT density. Considering all characteristics, cultivar Achat was the most resistant to B. tabaci biotype B among all potato genotypes studied, while clone NYL 235-4 proved (past tense) to be susceptible.
Insecta; Aleyrodidae; silverleaf whitefly; host plant resistance
