Abstract
Abstract Virginia tobacco stems contain various bioactive compounds with potential use as plant-based pesticides. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Virginia tobacco stem extract in controlling whitefly ( Bemisia tabaci Genn.) on potato plants. The experiment was conducted in Sembalun Village, East Lombok District, from July to September 2024. Observed parameters included whitefly population, pest attack intensity, virus symptom incidence, number of tubers, and tuber weight. The experiment employed a Randomized Completely Block Design (RCBD) with six treatments and four replications: T0 (control), T1 (abamectin), T2 (30 mL tobacco extract per 1000 mL water), T3 (40 mL/1000 mL), T4 (50 mL/1000 mL), and T5 (60 mL/1000 mL). The results indicated that the application of Virginia tobacco stem extract significantly reduced whitefly population and infestation intensity while increasing potato yield. The treatment of 30 mL/1000 mL water (T2) showed a significantly different effect compared to the control (T0). In general, higher extract concentrations tended to provide greater suppression of whitefly population and infestation intensity and resulted in higher yields. The highest concentration tested (60 mL/1000 mL) was not significantly different from the chemical pesticide abamectin in suppressing whitefly infestation and enhancing yield of potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.).