Fourth International Bemisia Workshop International Whitefly Genomics Workshop
Bemisia tabaci nymphal feeding pathway in cotton
1 USDA, ARS, Arid-Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, Arizona, USA. Correspondence: cchu@wcrl.ars.usda.gov
2 Electron Microscopy Center, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, USA
3 USDA, ARS, Biosciences Research Laboratory, Fargo, North Dakota, USA
We are using brightfield light microscopy, differential interference contrast microscopy, confocal scanning light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy to investigate the feeding pathways of sweetpotato whitefly nymphs in cotton leaves. Microscopy events trace the insect’s stylet penetrations from the initial entrance in the abaxial epidermal leaf surface and thereafter through the various leaf structures, as evidenced by the salivary sheaths, to the phloem tissue where feeding occurs. The morphology of the salivary sheath pathways between and through leaf cells was recorded with photographic images. The results indicate that salivary sheaths appear present and within the phloem tissue sieve tubes. Sweetpotato whitefly nymphs may move their stylets to feed in different sieve tubes. Continuing studies are being made to determine if and how the salivary sheaths attach to individual sieve tubes and the mechanisms of penetration of sweetpotato whitefly nymph stylets into phloem tissues during feedings.