Caribbean - Region Diagnostic Training, characterization of White Fly Biotypes

Ms.

Kenia Campo, UWI, Entomology Research and Phd candidate was funded to travel to the University of Arizona to complete her training in the molecular analysis and bio typing of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). Bemisia tabaci is a species complex with global distribution and extensive genetic diversity.

It causes excessive crop losses through directly feeding and transmission of plant viruses.

The main tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world, has been a major challenge to agricultural scientists in both developing and industrialized nations.

In the late 1980s, tomato producing areas in Latin America and across the tropics began to suffer from high incidences of whitefly-borne begomoviruses with devastating economic consequences.

The training at the University of Arizona, therefore involved DNA isolation from whiteflies, Polymerase chain reaction of mtCOI gene, cloning of PCR products, DNA sequencing, Sequence assembly, alignment, phylogenetic analysis and procurement of reading literature on whitefly taxonomy with B. tabaci emphasis.