UV-ABSORBING PLASTIC FILMS FOR THE CONTROL OF BEMISIA TABACI (GENNADIUS) AND TOMATO YELLOW LEAF CURL DISEASE (TYLCD) IN PROTECTED CULTIVATIONS IN SICILY (SOUTH ITALY)

Physical management of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), the vectorof tomato yellow leaf curl disease (TYLCD), has been widely applied in Sicily (SouthItaly) so far, through the application of insect-proof screens to greenhouse openings.Alternative techniques have been explored, such as the application of photoselectivefilms as greenhouse plastic covers. In particular, various UV-absorbing plastic films(including also a locally produced one) have been compared to UV-unabsorbingplastic films and insect-proof screens. Under all tested UV-absorbing films, thewhitefly presence and the consequent TYLCD spreading have been significantly low,ranging from 0.0 to 0.5 adults/sampled leaf (versus 1-5 adults/sampled leaf, underconventional plastic covers) and from 0 to 25% of virus incidence (versus 4-70%, inthe tests). Good performances have been shown by the film produced in Sicily. Dataobtained up to now in Sicily confirm the physical validity of UV-absorbing films,stating also how they fit properly within strategies of integrated control of pests andviruses in protected cultivations.