Pymetrozine interferes with transmission of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci

Pymetrozine, a novel compound belonging to the class pyridine-azomethines, is a feeding inhibitor labeled for use against plant pests in the order Hemiptera. Pymetrozine was evaluated for its ability to interfere with whitefly transmission of the begomovirus Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV). Pymetrozine was applied as Fulfill(TM) 50 WG at two rates (0.291 and 0.582 g formulation l(-1)) to tomato seedlings with four to six true leaves. Viruliferous whiteflies (three to five per plant) were added 1, 4, 7 and 11 d after a single application of pymetrozine, and transmission rates were determined 4 wk after the addition of whiteflies. Pymetrozine provided protection against transmission of TYLCV by viruliferous whiteflies for up to 1 wk after a single application. No phytotoxicity was observed on tomato transplants. These results indicate that pymetrozine could be an effective tool for tomato transplant producers to protect susceptible transplants from infection by begomoviruses, such as TYLCV. Pymetrozine might also work well as part of an integrated approach to begomovirus management in greenhouse tomato fruit production.