The potential of proteases inhibitor in the control of silverleaf whitefly Bemisia tabaci biotype B

• Grant number: 09/17196-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: May 01, 2010
• End date: October 31, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: André Luiz Lorenzon
• Grantee: Jeanne Scardini Marinho Prado
• Host Institution: Instituto Agronômico (IAC). Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Protease inhibitors (PI) are protein compounds used by plants in their defense mechanism against insects. Much has been researched about the damage caused by PI in herbivorous insects, however little is known about the effect of these compounds on sucking insects such as whitefly. Bemisia tabaci biotype B is the most harmful pest in tropical and subtropical countries, especially being a vector of a wide variety of viruses. The main feature of this biotype is its ability to adapt to a wide variety of hosts and in unfavorable conditions. Chemical control is the main method used in the management of B. tabaci and populations of this pest can quickly develop resistance to insecticides. Thus, new compounds should be studied to increase the diversity of products for use in the management of this insect in order to avoid development of resistant populations. In this context, IP could work for the management of this pest as a source of resistance in transgenic plants, as well as applications on the crop. This project has the aim to understand and characterize the biochemical and biological PI applied on soybean plants and individuals of B. tabaci biotype B.