Suppressive effect of acetylated glyceride (Bemidetach™EC) on Tomato yellow leaf curl virus transmitted by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci on greenhouse tomato plants

Acetylated glyceride (Bemidetach™EC)—a food additive—repels adult sweet potato whiteflies ( Bemisia tabaci ) and inhibits their mating behavior. We evaluated the effects of acetylated glyceride spraying of greenhouse-grown tomato plants on infestation with B. tabaci and the occurrence of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) disease under commercial-like conditions. The abundance of adult B. tabaci was significantly reduced by three sprayings of acetylated glyceride, and the TYLCV incidence was significantly suppressed to less than 30% of that in the untreated control. These results suggest that acetylated glyceride sprays suppress the secondary spread of TYLCV in greenhouse-grown tomatoes by lessening B. tabaci adult density.