Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Persistence of soil and foliar azadirachtin treatments to control sweetpotato whitefly Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) on tomatoes under controlled (laboratory) and field (netted greenhouse) conditions in the humid tropics

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Pest Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Persistence of neem-based products against sweetpotato whitefly Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) was tested in air conditioned rearing rooms and tropical netted greenhouses (GHs). Two commercial neem products, NeemAzal®-T/S (1% azadirachtin) and NeemAzal®-U (17% azadirachtin), were used. Foliar application, under room conditions at dose-rates of 7 and 10 ml NeemAzal®-T/S, induced an immature mortality of 32 and 44%, respectively, whereas 7 days post-application, under GH conditions, mortality rates declined to 5 and 7%, respectively. This result indicated rapid dissipation of the active ingredients. However, systemic application by soil drenching resulted in more stable effects under both laboratory and GH conditions. After soil drenching with solutions of 3.0 g NeemAzal®-U until 7-day, immature mortality declined from 88% for the first day to almost half (45%) by day-7 in the GH, and from 90% on first day to 64% by day-7 under laboratory condition. Similar response trends for B. tabaci were obtained for other parameters such as adult colonisation, egg deposition, and egg hatch. The loss of efficiency of the neem products was clearly related to dose-rate, methods of application, and environment (temperature and UV). Soil application is therefore, a convenient approach to achieve high efficiency and persistence with neem products under the conditions in tropical GH environments for whitefly management.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abou-Fakhr Hammad E, Nemer NM, Hawi ZK, Hanna LT (2000) Responses of the sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci to the Chinaberry tree (Melia Azedarach L.) and its extracts. Ann Appl Biol 137:79–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abou-Fakhr Hammad EM, Zournajian H, Talhouk S (2001) Efficacy of extracts of Melia azedarach L. callus, leaves and fruits against adults of sweetpotato whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Hom., Aleyrodidae). J Appl Entomol 125:483–488

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aerts RJ, Mordue AJ (1997) Feeding deterrence and toxicity of neem triterpenoids. J Chem Ecol 23:2117–2132

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ascher KRS, Meisner J, Klein M (2000) Neem-based biopesticides against the western flower thrips and the onion thrips. Phytoparasitica 28:87–90

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrek S, Paisse O, Marie-Florence G-L (2004) Analysis of neem oils by LC-MS and degradation kinetics of azadirachtin-A in a controlled environment. Anal Bioanal Chem 378:753–763

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barnby MA, Yamasaki RB, Kloske JA (1989) Biological activity of azadirachtin, three derivatives, and other ultraviolet radiation degradation products against tobacco budworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae. J Econ Entomol 82:58–63

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Basedow T, Ossiewatsch HR, Bernal vega JA, Kollmann S, El shafie HAF, Nicol CMY (2002) Control of aphids and whiteflies (Homoptera: Aphididae and Aleyrodidae) with different neem preparations in laboratory, greenhouse and field: effects and limitations. J Plant Dis Prot 109:612–623

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Butler GDJ, Brown JK, Henneberry TJ (1986) Effect of cotton seedling infection by cotton-leaf crumple virus on subsequent growth and yield. J Econ Entomol 79:208–211

    Google Scholar 

  • Bomford MK, Isman MB (1996) Desensitization of fifth instar Spodoptera litura to azadirachtin and neem. Entomol Exp Appl 81:307–313

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Byrne DN, Bellow TS, Parella MP (1990) Whiteflies in agricultural systems. In: Gerling D (ed) Whiteflies: their bionomics. Pest Status and Management. Intercept, Andover, Hants pp 227–261

  • Byrne FJ, Castle S, Prabhaker N, Toscano NC (2003) Biochemical study of resistance to imidacloprid in B biotype Bemisia tabaci from Guatemala. Pest Manag Sci 59:347–352

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Caboni P, Cabras M, Angioni A, Russo M, Cabras P (2002) Persistence of azadirachtin residues on olives after field treatment. J Agric Food Chem 50(12):3491–3494

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cahill M, Byrne FJ, Gorman K, Denholm L, Devonshire AL (1995) Pyrethroid and Organophosphate resistance in the tobacco whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). Bull Entomol Res 85:181–187

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cock MJN (1986) Bemisia tabaci – A literature survey on the cotton whitefly with an annotated bibliography. FAO/CAB International Institute of Biological Control. Ascot, UK, p 21

  • Coudriet DL, Prabhaker N, Meyerdirk DE (1985) Sweetpotato Whitefly (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae): effects of neem-seed extract on oviposition and immature stages. Environ Entomol 14:776–779

    Google Scholar 

  • Denholm I, Cahill M, Byrne FJ, Devonshire AL (1996) Progress with documenting and combating insecticide resistance in Bemisia. In: Bemisia 1995: taxonomy, biology, damage, control and management. Intercept, Andover, Hants

  • Dittrich V, Uk S, Ernat GH (1990) Chemical control and insecticide resistance of whiteflies. In: Gerling D (ed) Whiteflies: their bionomics, pest status and management. Intercept, Andover, Hants, UK, pp 263–285

    Google Scholar 

  • Duffus JE (1987) Whitefly transmission of plant viruses. Curr Top Vector Res 4:73–91

    Google Scholar 

  • Flint HM, Sparks NJ (1989) Effect of azadirachtin from the neem tree on immature sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) and other selected pest species on cotton. J Agric Entomol 6:211–215

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gameel OI (1974) Some aspects of the mating and oviposition behaviour of the cotton whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Genn.). Rev Zool Afr 88(4):784–788

    Google Scholar 

  • Gomez A, Gomez AA (1984) Statistical procedures for agriculture research. Wiley, New York, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Greathead AH (1986) Host plant. In: Cock MJN (ed) Bemisia tabaci – a literature survey on the cotton whitefly with an annotated bibliography. CAB International Institutes, Biological Control, Silwood Park, UK, pp 17–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Hellpap C (1984) Effects of neem kernel extracts on the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda. In: Schmutterer H, Ascher KRS (eds) Natural pesticides from the neem tree (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) and other tropical plants: proceedings of the second international neem conference. German Agency for Technical Cooperation, Eschborn, Rauischholzhausen, Germany, 1983, pp 353–364

  • Isman MB, Koul O, Arnason JT, Stewart J, Salloum GS (1991) Developing a neem-based insecticide for Canada. Mem Ent Soc Can 159:39–47

    Google Scholar 

  • James RR (2003) Combining Azadirachtin and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes) to control Bemisia argentifolii (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). J Econ Entomol 96(1):25–30

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson S, Dureja P, Dhingra S (2003) Photostablizers for Azadirachtin-A (a Neem-based pesticide). J Environ Sci Health B 38:451–462

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kleeberg H (1992) The NeemAzal conception: test of systemic activity. In: H. Kleeberg (ed) Proceedings of the 1st Workshop on Practice Oriented Results on Use and Production of Neem Ingredients. Druck and Graphics, Giessen, Wetzlar, Germany

  • Koul O, Isman MB, Ketkar CM (1990) Properties and usages of neem Azadiracta indica. Can J Bot 68:1–11

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar P, Poehling H-M, Borgemeister C (2005) Effects of different application methods of Neem against Sweetpotato Whitefly Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) on Tomato plants. J Appl Entomol 129:889–497

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Larew HG (1988) Limited occurrences of foliar-, root and seed-applied neem seed extract toxin in untreated plant parts. J Econ Entomol 81:593–598

    Google Scholar 

  • Larew HG, Kondel-Montz JJ, Webb RF, Warthen JD (1985) Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) (Diptera: Agromyzidae) control on chrysanthemum by neem-seed extract applied to soil. J Econ Entomol 78:80–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu TX, Stansly PA (1995) Deposition and bioassay of insecticides applied by leaf dip and spray tower against Bemisia agentifolii nymphs (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). Pesticide Science. 44:317–322

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maynard DN, Cantliffe DJ (1989) Squash silverleaf and tomato irregular ripening: new vegetable disorders in Florida. Coop. Ext. Serv., Vegetable Crops Fact Sheet VC-37, University of Florida, FL

  • Mitchell PL, Gupta R, Singh AK, Kumar P (2004) Behavioural and developmental effects of neem extracts on Clavigralla scutellaris (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Coreidae) and its egg parasitoid, Gryon fulviventre (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae). J Econ Entomol 97(3):916–923

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mound LA, Halsey SH (1978) Whiteflies of the World: a systematic catalogue of the aleyrodidae (Homoptera) with host plant and natural enemy data. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Nardo EAB, De Costa AS, Lourencao AL (1997) Melia azedarach extract as an antifeedant to Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). Fla Entomol 80:92–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Ossiewatsch HR (2000) Zur Wirkung von Samenkern-Wasserextrakten des Niembaumes Azadirachta indica (A. Juss) auf Blattläuse und ihre natürlichen Gegenspieler, PhD. Dissertation, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Germany

  • Otto D (1994) Systemic effects of the azadirachtin preparation Neemazal W on larvae and adults of Leptinotarsa decemlineata. In: Kleeberg H (ed) Proceedings of the third workshop on practice oriented results on use and production of neem ingredients, Druck and Graphics, Giessen, Germany, Wetzlar, Germany, 22–25 November 1993, pp 39–53

  • Prabhaker N, Toscano NC, Coudriet DL (1989) Susceptibility of the immature and adult stage of the sweetpotato whitefly (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) to selected insecticides. J Econ Entomol 82:983–988

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prabhaker N, Toscano NC, Henneberry JT (1999) Comparison of neem, urea, and amitraz as oviposition suppressants and larvicides against Bemisia argentifolii (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). J Econ Entomol 92(1):40–46

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rapisarda C, Garzia GT (2002) Tomato yellow leaf curl sardinia virus and its vector Bemisia tabaci in Sicilia (Italy): present status and control possibilities OEPP/EPPO. Bull OEPP/EPPO Bull 32:25–29

    Google Scholar 

  • SAS Institute (1999) SAS/Stat user’s guide, Version 8. SAS Institute, Cary, NC

  • Schmutterer H (1985) Which insect pest can be controlled by application of neem seed kernel extract under field conditions? Z angew Entomol 100:468–775

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmutterer H (1988) Potential of Azadirachtin-containing pesticides for integrated pest control in developing and industrialized countries. Insect Physiol 34(7):713–719

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schmutterer H (1990) Properties and potential of natural pesticides from neem tree, Azadirachta indica. Ann Rev Entomol 35:271–297

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scott IM, Kaushik NK (2000) The toxicity of a neem insecticide to populations of culicidae and other aquatic invertebrates as assessed in in situ microcosms. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 39:329–336

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Secker AE, Bedford IA, Markham PG, William MEC (1998) Squash, a reliable field indicator for the presence of B biotype of tobacco whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, Brighton crop protection conference-pest and diseases. British Crop Protection Council, Farnham, UK, pp 837–842

  • Showler A, Greenberg TSM, Arnason JT (2004) Deterrent effects of four neem-based formulations on gravid female boll weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) feeding and oviposition on cotton squares. J Econ Entomol 97(2):414–421

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sundaram KMS (1996) Azadirachtin biopesticide: a review of studies conducted on its analytical chemistry, environmental behaviour and biological effects. J Environ Sci Health B 31:913–948

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steel RGD, Torrie JH (1980) Principles and procedures of statistics, 2nd edn. McGraw Hill Inc, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Stokes JB, Redfern RE (1982) Effect of sunlight on Azadirachtin: antifeeding potency. J Environ Sci Health A17:57–65

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thoeming G, Borgemeister C, Sétamou M, Poehling H-M (2003) Systemic effects of neem on western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). J Econ Entomol 96:817–825

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • von Elling K, Borgemeister C, Setamou M, Poehling H-M (2002) The effect of NeemAzal-T/S, a commercial neem product, on different development stages of the common greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood (Hom., Aleyrodidae). J Appl Entomol 126:40–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weintraub PG, Horowitz AR (1997) Systemic effects of a neem insecticide on Liriomyza huidobrensis larvae. Phytoparasitica 25:283–289

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The study was part of an interdisciplinary research project funded by the German Research Foundation (FOR 431) entitled “Protected cultivation–an approach to sustainable vegetable production in the humid tropics”. We thank Dr. E. Hummel of Trifolio-M GmbH (Lahnau, Germany) for providing NeemAzal- T/S® and U® and its blank formulations, and Mr. Lakchai Menakanit and Mrs. Patcharee Menakanit. Finally, our sincere thanks go to Dr. Maxwell J. Whitten for reading and commenting on the manuscript. The study was conducted within the frame of the Research group FOR 431, supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Trilateral Protected Cultivation Project FOR 431 (DFG)—Hannover University/Asian Institute of Technology/Kasetsart University, Asian Institute of Technology, Klong Luang, Pathumthani, 12120, Thailand

    Prabhat Kumar

  2. Institute of Plant Protection and Plant Diseases, Hannover University, Herrenhäuser Str. 2, 30419, Hannover, Germany

    Prabhat Kumar & H. -M. Poehling

Authors
  1. Prabhat Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. H. -M. Poehling
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. -M. Poehling.

Additional information

Communicated by Jürgen Gross

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kumar, P., Poehling, H.M. Persistence of soil and foliar azadirachtin treatments to control sweetpotato whitefly Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) on tomatoes under controlled (laboratory) and field (netted greenhouse) conditions in the humid tropics. J Pest Sci 79, 189–199 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-006-0133-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-006-0133-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation