ARS | Publication request: EVALUATION OF ADVANCED SWEETPOTATO GENOTYPES FOR RESISTANCE TO SOIL INSECT PESTS, 2007

Submitted to: Arthropod Management Tests
Publication Type: Research Notes
Publication Acceptance Date: January 8, 2009
Publication Date: September 15, 2009
Citation: Jackson, D.M. 2009. Evaluation of Advanced Sweetpotato Genotypes For Resistance to Soil Insect Pests, 2007. Arthropod Management Tests. Volume 34, Report No. M4, Online Journal at http://www.entsoc.org/pubs/index.html.

Technical Abstract: This report describes a field evaluation of advanced orange-fleshed sweetpotato genotypes from the USDA ARS sweetpotato breeding program at the U. S. Vegetable Laboratory (USVL), Charleston, SC. This field experiment included three insect-susceptible check cultivars (‘Beauregard’, ‘Hernandez’, and ‘SC1149 19’), three insect-resistant check cultivars (‘Charleston Scarlet’, ‘Regal’, and ‘Ruddy’), 62 advanced genotypes from this program, and four other varieties that were evaluated for insect resistance in field trials of four replications at the USVL. ANOVA indicated that there were highly significant entry effects for percent uninjured roots, WDS index (Wireworm, Diabrotica, Systena), percent sweetpotato weevil damaged (Cylas formicarius [F.]) roots, percent flea beetle damaged (Chaetocnema confinis Crotch) roots, and percent grub damaged (Plectris aliena Chapin and/or Phyllophaga spp.) roots. Sixty sweetpotato genotypes had a significantly higher percentage of uninjured roots than the three susceptible check cultivars (‘Beauregard’, ‘Hernandez’, and ‘SC1149 19’). Fifty-six genotypes had a significantly lower WDS rating than the three susceptible checks. All but two genotypes had significantly lower infestation by SPFB than did ‘SC1149-19’ and ‘Hernandez’, and 53 genotypes were more resistant to flea beetles than ‘Beauregard’. Forty-three genotypes had significantly lower percentage of infestation by white grubs, and 66 genotypes had significantly lower percentage of infestation by sweetpotato weevils than did the three susceptible checks.