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Title: EVALUATION OF DRY-FLESHED SWEETPOTATO GERMPLASM FOR RESISTANCE TO SOIL INSECT PESTS IN FLORIDA, 2001

Author
item Jackson, D
item Bohac, Janice
item SEAL, D - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

Submitted to: Arthropod Management Tests
Publication Type: Research Notes
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/26/2003
Publication Date: 11/26/2003
Citation: JACKSON, D.M., BOHAC, J., SEAL, D.R. 2003. EVALUATION OF DRY-FLESHED SWEETPOTATO GERMPLASM FOR RESISTANCE TO SOIL INSECT PESTS IN FLORIDA, 2001. ARTHROPOD MANAGEMENT TESTS, Volume 28, Report No. M16, Online journal at http://www.entsoc.org/pubs/index.html.

Interpretive Summary: Most commercial dry-fleshed sweetpotato cultivars 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 dry-fleshed sweetpotato entries from the USDA ARS/Clemson sweetpotato breeding program at the U. S. Vegetable Laboratory (USVL), Charleston, SC. Thirty sweetpotato germplasm entries, including two insect susceptible check cultivars, were evaluated for insect resistance in replicated field trials at Homestead, FL. Several of the advanced, dry fleshed germplasm 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: This report describes a field evaluation in Florida of advanced dry fleshed sweetpotato germplasm from the USDA ARS sweetpotato breeding program at the U. S. Vegetable Laboratory (USVL), Charleston, SC. The experiment included an insect susceptible, moist orange fleshed check cultivar ('Beauregard'), two insect resistant, moist orange fleshed check cultivars ('Patriot' and 'Ruddy'), one insect susceptible, dry fleshed check cultivar ('Picadito'), two insect resistant, dry fleshed check cultivars ('White Regal' and 'Sumor'), and 24 mostly dry fleshed advanced entries that were evaluated for insect resistance in replicated field trials at a cooperating grower's field near Homestead, FL. There were highly significant entry effects for percent uninjured roots and for WDS index (Wireworm, Diabrotica, Systena), but not for percent sweetpotato weevil damaged (Cylas formicarius elegantulus) roots or percent sweetpotato leaf beetle (Typophorus nigritus viridicyaneus) grub damaged roots (Table 1). Twenty one advanced breeding lines had a significantly higher percentage of undamaged roots than 'Beauregard', and 16 advanced breeding lines had a significantly higher percentage of undamaged roots than 'Picadito'. Fourteen entries had significantly lower WDS rating than either of the susceptible check cultivars.