Relationship of the sweetpotato whitefly to a new tomato fruit disorder in Florida

TLDR: A new disorder of fruit has been observed on tomato (Lycopersicon escu- lentum Mill.) in Florida and was associated with field populations of the sweetpotato whitefly and is char- acterized by incomplete ripening of longitudinal sections of fruit.

Abstract: A new disorder of fruit has been observed on tomato (Lycopersicon escu- lentum Mill.) in Florida. The disorder, termed irregular ripening, was associated with field populations of the sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) and is char- acterized by incomplete ripening of longitudinal sections of fruit. An increase in internal white tissue also was associated with whitefly populations. In field cage studies, fruit on tomato plants not infested with the sweetpotato whitefly exhibited slight or no irregular ripening, whereas fruit from infested plants did. Fruit from plants on which a whitefly infestation had been controlled before the appearance of external symptoms exhibited reduced symptoms compared to fruit from plants on which an infestation was uncontrolled.