The β-aminobutyric acid (BABA) is a plant defense priming compound highly effective in controlling important tomato diseases and plant-parasitic nematodes. It has also been shown to induce resistance against phytophagous insects such as aphids. This study examines the effect of BABA on the performance of the tomato pest Bemisia tabaci (MEAM 1, previously known as Biotype B) and its zoophytophagous predator Macrolophus pygmaeus under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Tomato plants were treated with BABA 25 mM applied by soil drenching. The effect of BABA on the fertility and juvenile development of two generations of B. tabaci and M. pygmaeus was evaluated. Our results showed no effect of BABA on the juvenile development or adult fecundity/fertility of both the whitefly and its predator. The non-interference of BABA with M. pygmaeus and B. tabaci assures that the control of the whitefly with this mirid bug will not be affected when this elicitor is applied to the crop. Further studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms underlying BABA-plant-whitefly-predatory myrids interactions.

中文翻译：

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植物防御引发化合物 β-氨基丁酸在用于控制番茄烟粉虱时是否会影响 Macrolophus pygmaeus 的性能？

β-氨基丁酸 (BABA) 是一种植物防御启动化合物，在控制重要的番茄病害和植物寄生线虫方面非常有效。它还被证明可以诱导对蚜虫等植食性昆虫的抗性。本研究检验了 BABA 在实验室和温室条件下对番茄害虫烟粉虱（MEAM 1，以前称为 B 型）及其食草性捕食者 Macrolophus pygmaeus 的性能的影响。番茄植株用 BABA 25 mM 通过土壤浸透处理。评估了BABA对烟粉虱和侏儒粉虱两代繁殖力和幼虫发育的影响。我们的结果表明 BABA 对粉虱及其捕食者的幼虫发育或成虫繁殖力/生育力没有影响。BABA 与 M. pygmaeus 和 B. 烟粉虱确保当将此诱导剂应用于作物时，不会影响控制带有这种 mirid 臭虫的粉虱。需要进一步的研究来阐明 BABA-植物-粉虱-捕食性万科相互作用的机制。