ARS 5-Minute Reads
Whiteflies on Squash. (Photo by Shaker Kousik, ARS)
Capturing the Movement of a Tomato Foe
Eating more vegetables may sound like a good health tip, but for one insect in the southeastern United States, this tip has caused multibillion-dollar losses in agriculture.
The whitefly, also known as the sweetpotato whitefly or the silverleaf whitefly, loves feasting on various vegetable crops including tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, beans, eggplant, watermelon, and cabbage. It also likes field crops such as potato, peanut, soybean, and cotton too. Talk about having a healthy and varied palate!
While the whitefly’s love for vegetables sounds like a parent’s dream come true, the insect transmits viruses, including Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (TYLCV), one of the most damaging pathogens of tomatoes and a serious threat to the tomato industry. Learn more...
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