Screening of Betelvine Cultivars For Resistance to Betelvine Whitefly, Singhiella pallida (Singh) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and New Host Plant Records

Betelvine (Piper betle L.) is a perennial dioecious evergreen creeper, grown in shady condition with high humidity. Betelvine whitefly, Singhiella (Dialeurodes) pallida (Singh) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is an important and common pest of betelvine causing severe damage to betel leaves. Screening of betelvine cultivars for resistance to betelvine whitefly, S. pallida was carried out in a conservatory (boroja) located at the Research Farm of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Nadia, West Bengal for two consecutive years (2005 and 2006). A total of twenty-three cultivars were evaluated. Suitability of three species of Piper as the hosts of betelvine whitefly was also tested. None of the tested cultivars of betelvine was completely free from whitefly infestation, though Simurali Sanchi and Kalipatti (both are of Sanchi type) were found to be moderately resistant in both the years. Here, three species of the genus Piper (P. longum, P. chaba and P. hamiltonii) have been recorded as the new hosts of S. pallida.