The Role of Insecticides in Whitefly and Virus Management in Vegetables in Georgia

Studies were conducted at the Coastal Plain Experiment Station in 2013 and 2014 to evaluate insecticide efficacy against whiteflies, Bemisia tabaci, and the spread of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) in tomato. The efficacy study was conducted in a replicated field spray test under naturally high whitefly and TYLCV levels in the fall. The TYLCV study was conducted under crop tunnels to control the intensity and direction of whitefly vector movement. The results indicate that even though whitefly numbers can be significantly reduced with insecticides, the ability of insecticides to reduce the spread of TYLCV is much more limited. The limitations of insecticide use in virus management are discussed.