A novel SLW management tactic that reduces reliance on insecticides.

The whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) commonly known as silver leaf whitefly (SLW) is a serious global pest and plant-virus vector, affecting a wide range of agricultural and horticultural crops, ornamental plants and weed species. In Australian cotton systems, SLW is a major pest because of its potential to contaminate cotton lint with honeydew. The adult insects are highly mobile, can develop resistance to insecticides quickly, and populations can expand rapidly when natural enemies are reduced by insecticides. Members of the B. tabaci species-complex also vector the exotic plant viruses that cause cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD), a significant biosecurity threat to Australian cotton. This project assessed transgenic approaches and other developing technologies for producing whitefly-resistant plants and identify pathways for adoption and use in the Australian cotton industry.