ARS | Publication request: Evaluation of Plant Introductions and Dry-Fleshed Sweetpotato Genotypes for Resistance to Soil Insect Pests, 2007

Submitted to: Arthropod Management Tests
Publication Type: Research Notes
Publication Acceptance Date: January 1, 2010
Publication Date: September 27, 2010
Citation: Jackson, D.M. 2010. Evaluation of Plant Introductions and Dry-Fleshed Sweetpotato Genotypes for Resistance to Soil Insect Pests, 2007. Arthropod Management Tests, Volume 35, Report No. M3, Online Journal at http://www.entsoc.org/pubs/index.html.

Technical Abstract: Two insect-susceptible, orange-fleshed check cultivars (‘Beauregard’ and ‘SC1149 19’), three insect-resistant check cultivars (‘Regal’, ‘Ruddy’ and ‘Sumor’), 21 dry-flesh genotypes from the USVL sweetpotato breeding program, and 12 other varieties and plant introductions (PI) obtained from the National Plant Germplasm System, sweetpotato collection, Griffin, GA, were evaluated for insect resistance in replicated field trials at Charleston, SC. Twenty sweetpotato genotypes had a significantly higher percentage of uninjured roots than the two susceptible check cultivars (‘Beauregard’ and ‘SC1149 19’). Twenty-nine genotypes had a significantly lower WDS (Wireworm-Diabrotica-Systena) rating than the susceptible checks. Twenty-nine genotypes also had significantly lower infestation by sweetpotato flea beetle than did ‘SC1149-19’. Thirty-one genotypes had significantly lower percentage of infestation by grubs than did ‘SC1149-19’. Thirty genotypes had significantly lower percentage of infestation by sweetpotato weevils than did ‘SC1149-19’, but only seven genotypes had significantly fewer sweetpotato weevils than ‘Beauregard’.