Ridge gourd is one of the important vegetable crops in India. Ridge gourd cultivation is affected by many biotic and abiotic challenges. Various plant pathogens and insect pests cause significant losses during cultivation. ToLCNDV (Tomato Leaf Curl New Delhi Virus), a begomovirus transmitted by Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) is one of the major limiting factors for Ridge gourd production. The symptoms of virus include chlorosis, mosaic, cupping of leaves, blistering, reduction in internodal lengths. In the present study, Begomovirus in the whiteflies collected from Ridge gourd plants showing typical symptoms of the virus was confirmed using ToLCNDV coat protein specific primers. White flies were collected from the field, species B. tabaci was confirmed using mtCOI primers. Whiteflies were mass multiplied in insect proof polyhouses on Brinjal plants for further studies of resistance screening

Ridge gourd, Bemisia tabaci, polyhouse, mass multiplication

The findings of whitefly B. tabaci molecular characterization signifies the effectiveness of mtCOI gene amplification for precise identification of whitefly species. Confirmation of ToLCNDV, a Begomovirus from the whiteflies collected form virus infected plants confirms involvement of vector B. tabaci in virus transmission. Mass multiplication of whiteflies was good with optimum temperature of 35±2°C, 30-50% relative humidity. Whitefly population is reduced during temperatures below 20°C and high humidity. This result concludes the optimum conditions required for whitefly multiplication in any research activities

Pradeep Kumar, Nafeesa Begum, Aravinthraj Ramarasu, Santosh Shelke, Nandakumar and Cherry Relevante (2023). Molecular Characterization and Mass Multiplication of Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci), a Vector of Ridge Gourd Begomovirus. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(3a): 85-88