Effect of the sweet potato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), infestation on the mean content of plant pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotene), as well as the percentage of moisture content were investigated in the leaves of three different plant varieties (cantaloupe, cucumber and zucchini) in a greenhouse. Results indicated that plant pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotene) differed significantly in their contents in the plant varieties. In general, mean content of chlorophyll a was significantly higher than chlorophyll b, which was higher than carotene. Plant varieties differed significantly in their content of pigments. The highest mean content of total plant pigments significantly was in cucumber, then cantaloupe followed by zucchini. Infestation with B. tabaci reduced mean content of each plant pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotene) in all plant varieties. Feeding of the whitefly decreased total percentage of moisture content in all plant varieties as well.
Key words: Bemisia tabaci, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotene, moisture content
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