Evaluation of resistance of bean cultivars to greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood under greenhouse conditions

The bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an important source of protein in the human diet, and the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood is one of the limiting factors of this product. In this study, the effect of eight cultivars of bean were investigated on the amount of secondary metabolites of plant before and after infection with greenhouse whitefly and also its effects in the plant growth stages on pest density. Results showed the effect of the bean cultivars on the amount of secondary compounds of plant before and after the infection of greenhouse whiteflies were significant. The highest values of phenol, flavonoid and anthocyanin were observed on P and Mutant cultivars and the lowest amounts of these compounds recorded on F cultivar. In addition, there were a significant difference on density of whitefly’s nymphs in different cultivars of bean. The highest density of nymphs observed in F and Smaller cultivars and the lowest density was observed in P and Mutant cultivars. Effect of different growth stages of plant was not significant on density of greenhouse whitefly, but the interaction of cultivars and different growth stages of plant were significant on density of nymphs. The highest density of nymphs was recorded on F cultivar in 2-4 leaf stage and the lowest density on the same growth stage in P and Mutant. Therefore, P and Mutant were identified as resistant cultivars and F as a sensitive cultivar. So, resistant cultivars can be used in integrated management programs of whitefly.