Use of UV-absorbing sheets to protect vegetable crops against virus vector insects and virus diseases
Studies carried out in Israel have shown that the use of ultraviolet-absorbing sheets in plastic tunnels could protect vegetable crops (tomato and cucumber) from infestation with Bemisia tabaci, Frankliniella occidentalis (both A2 quarantine pests) and Aphis gossypii. In addition, the protection against B. tabaci also resulted in a significantly reduced spread of tomato yellow leaf curl bigeminivirus (EPPO A2 quarantine pest).
Sources
Antignus, Y.; Mor, N.; Ben Joseph, R.; Lapidot, M.; Cohen, S. (1996) Ultraviolet-absorbing plastic sheets protect crops from insect pests and from virus diseases vectored by insects.
Entomological Society of America, 25(5), 919-924.