Manisha Yadav, Krishna Rolania and Deepika Kalkal
Abstract
Understanding how plant traits affect herbivore distribution and performance is vital for creating effective pest control plans. This research examined the distribution of Bemisia tabaci within the plant and how leaf age-related morphological and biochemical traits impact its development across three cotton varieties. Whitefly adults and nymphs showed stage-specific distribution patterns; adults mainly occupied the upper canopy, while nymphs were most common on the middle canopy leaves. In contrast, developmental parameters, including egg hatchability, nymphal survival, nymphal duration, and adult emergence, were significantly higher on mature (25-day-old) leaves compared to young (5-day-old) leaves. Morphological traits such as trichome density and length showed a positive correlation with whitefly development, suggesting they facilitate oviposition and support immature survival. Conversely, biochemical traits, including phenols, gossypol, and tannins, were negatively associated with development, highlighting their role in resistance through antibiosis. These findings indicate that both leaf age and specific plant traits collectively influence B. tabaci distribution and performance, which impacts host resistance and pest control strategies.