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Title: EVALUATION OF REGIONAL SWEETPOTATO ENTRIES FOR RESISTANCE TO SOIL INSECT PESTS, 1999

Author
item Jackson, D
item Bohac, Janice
item MUELLER, JOHN - CLEMSON UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Arthropod Management Tests
Publication Type: Research Notes
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/4/2002
Publication Date: 9/4/2002
Citation: JACKSON, D.M., BOHAC, J., MUELLER, J.D. EVALUATION OF REGIONAL SWEETPOTATO ENTRIES FOR RESISTANCE TO SOIL INSECT PESTS, 1999. ARTHROPOD MANAGEMENT TESTS. 2002. v.27. Report No. M-18.

Interpretive Summary: Most commercial sweetpotato varieties have little resistance to soil insect pests, which can severely limit marketable yields. Thus, there is a need to develop new varieties that have increased levels of insect resistance. This report describes the field evaluation of advanced sweetpotato entries from the 1999 National Sweetpotato Collaborator Trials. Eight entries, including two insect-susceptible check cultivars, were evaluated for insec resistance in replicated field trials at Charleston, SC. Some of the regional lines were more resistant to soil insect pests than were the susceptible check varieties. The most promising of these advanced clones will be developed as breeding lines or new sweetpotato varieties.

Technical Abstract: Most commercial sweetpotato varieties have little resistance to soil insect pests, which can severely limit marketable yields. Thus, there is a need to develop new varieties that have increased levels of insect resistance. This report describes the field evaluation of advanced sweetpotato entries from the 1999 National Sweetpotato Collaborator Trials. Two insect-susceptible check cultivars ('Beauregard' and SC1149-19), an intermediate check ('Jewel'), an insect-resistant check ('Regal'), and four regional entries were evaluated for insect resistance in a replicated field trial at Charleston, SC. There were highly significant entry effects for WDS index (Wireworm, Diabrotica, Systena), percent flea beetle-damaged (Chaetocnema confinis Crotch) roots, percent grub-damaged (Plectris aliena Chapin and/or Phyllophaga spp.) roots, and overall percentage of undamaged roots. The highest levels of resistance to WDS were for 'Regal' and W-337, which were significantly more resistant than the standard cultivars 'Beauregard' and SC1149-19. The other regional lines (L94-96, W-334, and W-352) were significantly more resistant than SC1149-19, but not 'Beauregard'. All regional entries, except L94-96, had significantly lower levels of flea beetles than SC1149-19. All regional entries, except W-334, had significantly lower levels of grubs than SC1149-19.