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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Charleston, South Carolina » Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #130397
Title: EVALUATION OF REGIONAL SWEETPOTATO ENTRIES FOR RESISTANCE TO SOIL INSECT PESTS, 2000

Author
item Jackson, D
item Bohac, Janice
item MUELLER, JOHN - CLEMSON UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Arthropod Management Tests
Publication Type: Research Notes
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/4/2002
Publication Date: 9/4/2002
Citation: JACKSON, D.M., BOHAC, J., MUELLER, J.D. EVALUATION OF REGIONAL SWEETPOTATO ENTRIES FOR RESISTANCE TO SOIL INSECT PESTS, 2000. ARTHROPOD MANAGEMENT TESTS. 2002. v.27. Report No. M-19.

Interpretive Summary: Most commercial sweetpotato varieties 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 sweetpotato entries from the 2000 National Sweetpotato Collaborator Trials. Fourteen entries, including three insect-susceptible check cultivars, were evaluated for insect resistance in replicated field trials at Charleston, SC. Some of the regional 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: Most commercial sweetpotato varieties 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 sweetpotato entries from the 2000 National Sweetpotato Collaborator Trials. Three insect-susceptible check cultivars ('Beauregard', 'Porto Rico', and SC1149-19), an intermediate check ('Jewel'), two insect-resistant checks ('Regal' and 'Ruddy'), and eight regional entries were evaluated for insect resistance in replicated field trials at Charleston, SC. There were highly significant entry effects for WDS index (Wireworm, Diabrotica, Systena), percent flea beetle-damaged (Chaetocnema confinis Crotch) roots, percent grub-damaged (Plectris aliena Chapin and/or Phyllophaga spp.) roots, and overall percentage of undamaged roots. The highest levels of resistance to oWDS were for 'Ruddy', W-328, W-334, W-346, W-352, and W-359, which were significantly more resistant than the standard cultivars 'Beauregard' and SC1149-19. All regional entries had significantly lower infestation levels of flea beetles than SC1149-19. All regional entries, except L94-96, had significantly lower infestations of white grub larvae than SC1149-19. 'Regal', 'Ruddy', W-328, and W-352 also were more resistant to grubs than 'Beauregard'.