Diversity of Piercing-Sucking Pests Infesting Some Plants of Solanaceae and Cucurbitaceae Families

Abstract

dominant species infesting all plants. The tested piercing-sucking pests were recorded 1-3 peaks, concentrating through April-May during the two tested seasons. Data showed that the increasing of B. tabaci and T. urticae populations led to a decrease in GA3, IAA and KIN contents, and an increase in ABA contents, contrariwise, the reverse direction was found with aphids and E. decipiens populations. Moreover, a negative relationship was recorded between phenoloxidase and all tested pests except whitefly was detected a positive effect. A positive relation was reported between phytochemical components and these pests except spider mite was negative. Finally, these results offer useful and appealingly data to point out herein that the infestation rate of piercing-sucking insects must refer to the resistance degree of each cultivar to help in putting the IPM management strategy in the control programs of these pests.