Received: Apr 28, 2020 / Published: Jun 18, 2021
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationships between environmental temperatures and life-history traits of whitefly Bemisia tabaci on cassava in the Northern part of Vietnam. The influence of temperature on the biological characteristics of whitefly B. tabaci fed on cassava was evaluated at 20ºC, 25ºC, 27.5ºC, and 30ºC using individual insect rearing methodology. Results of the study showed that the development time from egg to adult of B. tabaci was influenced by temperatures. The data indicated that under different temperatures (20ºC, 25ºC, 27.5ºC, and 30ºC), the life cycle of B. tabaci were 41.46, 28.64, 24.29, and 20.25 days, respectively. The determination of lower developmental threshold and degree days for whitefly development were 11.2ºC and 344.8 degree-days. There were 14.31 whitefly generations within 1 year on cassava suggesting this plant is a suitable host plant for the development and reproduction of B. tabaci. Female longevity ranged from 4.92 to 10.23 days. The fecundity ranged from 49.3 to 74.0 eggs/female. The mortality rate reached its highest rate of 36.27% at 30ºC. Our results suggested that B. tabaci had high reproduction rates and demonstrated their positive fitness traits on cassava in a wide range of temperatures, being a potential important pest of cassava cultivars.
