ARS | Publication request: Evaluation of Advanced Sweetpotato Genotypes for Resistance to Soil Insect Pests, 2009

Submitted to: Arthropod Management Tests
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: January 1, 2010
Publication Date: September 27, 2010
Citation: Jackson, D.M. 2010. Evaluation of Advanced Sweetpotato Genotypes for Resistance to Soil Insect Pests, 2009. Arthropod Management Tests, Volume 35, Report No. M6, 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 in 2009. This field experiment included four insect-susceptible check cultivars (‘Beauregard’, ‘Diane’, ‘Hernandez’, and ‘SC1149 19’), three insect-resistant check cultivars (‘Charleston Scarlet’, ‘Regal’, and ‘Ruddy’), 57 advanced genotypes from this program, and 11 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. Forty-seven sweetpotato genotypes had a significantly higher percentage of uninjured roots than the four susceptible checks. Twenty-seven genotypes had a significantly lower WDS rating than the four susceptible checks. All but one genotype had significantly lower infestation by SPFB than did ‘SC1149-19’. Sixty-eight genotypes had significantly lower percentage of infestation by SPW than did ‘SC1149-19’ or ‘Hernandez’.