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Title: THE SWEETPOTATO LEAF BEETLE, TYPOPHORUS NIGRITUS VIRIDICYANEUS (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE), AN EMERGING PEST IN JAMAICA: DISTRIBUTION AND HOST PLANT RESISTANCE

Author
item Jackson, D
item LAWRENCE, J - OHIO STATE UNIV.
item DALIP, K. - CARDI, KINGSTON, JAMAICA
item CHUNG, P - RADA, KINGSTON, JAMAICA
item CLARKE-HARRIS, D - CARDI, KINGSTON, JAMAICA
item Bohac, Janice
item TOLIN, S. - VIRGINIA TECH UNIV.
item EDWARDS, C. - OHIO STATE UNIV.
item SEAL, D - UNIV. OF FLORIDA

Submitted to: Tropical Agriculture (Trinidad)
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/22/2004
Publication Date: 10/1/2003
Citation: Jackson, D.M., J. Lawrence, K. M. Dalip P. Chung, D. Clarke-Harris, J. R. Bohac, S. Tolin, C. Edwards, and D. R. Seal. 2003. The sweetpotato leaf beetle, Typophorus nigritus viridicyaneus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), an emerging pest in Jamaica: Distribution and host plant resistance. Tropical Agriculture (Thinidad) 80(4):235 242.

Interpretive Summary: The sweetpotato leaf beetle is an occasional pest of sweetpotatoes in the United States, but it has recently become a major pest of sweetpotato production in Jamaica, and new pest management techniques are needed for its control. Several sweetpotato breeding lines from the USDA ARS sweetpotato breeding program at the U.S. Vegetable Laboratory, Charleston, SC were evaluated in Jamaica for resistance to this pest. Several lines showed resistance to sweetpotato leaf beetle larvae. Fipronyl and an organic garlic extract also were effective in controlling this pest, but effectiveness increased when used in combination with the resistant sweetpotato genotypes. An integrated approach to controlling these insects may provide effective management of this production problem.

Technical Abstract: The sweetpotato leaf beetle, Typophorus nigritus viridicyaneus (Crotch) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Eumolpinae) is an emerging pest of sweetpotato in Jamaica. Several sweetpotato genotypes from the USDA ARS sweetpotato breeding program at the U.S. Vegetable Laboratory, Charleston, SC were evaluated in Jamaica for resistance to the larval stages of this pest. White Regal and PI 531116 were the most promising genotypes exhibiting resistance to sweetpotato leaf beetle larvae. Fipronyl and an organic garlic extract also were effectual in controlling this pest, but effectiveness increased when used in combination with the resistant sweetpotato genotypes.