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Title: EVALUATION OF PLANT INTRODUCTIONS AND DRY-FLESHED SWEETPOTATO GERMPLASM FOR RESISTANCE TO SOIL INSECT PESTS, 1999

Author
item Jackson, D
item Bohac, Janice
item MUELLER, J - CLEMSON UNIVERISTY

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., MUELLER, J.D. 2003. EVALUATION OF PLANT INTRODUCTIONS AND DRY-FLESHED SWEETPOTATO GERMPLASM FOR RESISTANCE TO SOIL INSECT PESTS, 1999. ARTHROPOD MANAGEMENT TESTS, Volume 28, Report No. M13, 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 seven sweetpotato germplasm entries, including four insect susceptible check cultivars, were evaluated for insect resistance in replicated field trials at Charleston and Blackville, SC. 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 the field evaluation of dry fleshed plant introductions (PI) and advanced dry fleshed sweetpotato germplasm from the USDA ARS/Clemson sweetpotato breeding program at the U. S. Vegetable Laboratory (USVL), Charleston, SC. The first experiment included two insect susceptible, moist orange fleshed check cultivars ('Beauregard' and 'SC1149 19'), an insect susceptible, dry fleshed check ('Picadito'), two insect resistant, dry fleshed checks ('White Regal' and 'Sumor'), 10 PIs, and 21 mostly dry fleshed advanced germplasm entries that were evaluated for insect resistance in replicated field trials at the USVL. There were highly significant entry effects for percent uninjured roots, WDS index (Wireworm, Diabrotica, Systena), percent grub damaged (Plectris aliena Chapin and/or Phyllophaga spp.) roots, and percent flea beetle damaged (Chaetocnema confinis Crotch) roots. Twenty nine advanced breeding lines had a significantly higher percentage of undamaged roots than 'SC1149 19' or 'Beauregard', and three plant introductions had a significantly higher percentage of undamaged roots than 'Picadito'. Twenty eight of the entries had significantly lower WDS rating than 'SC1149 19' or 'Beauregard'. Twenty entries had a significantly lower percentage infestation by SPFB than did 'SC1149 19'. Ten entries had a significantly lower percentage infestation by grubs than did 'SC1149 19' or 'Beauregard'. No damage from sweetpotato weevils was found at Charleston in 1999. The second experiment, which had four insect susceptible, moist orange fleshed check cultivars ('Jewel', 'Centennial', 'Beauregard' and 'SC1149 19'), an insect resistant, moist orange fleshed check ('Regal'), an insect susceptible, dry fleshed check ('Picadito'), two insect resistant, dry fleshed checks ('White Regal' and 'Sumor'), and 11 other entries, was planted at the Clemson University, Edisto Research and Education Center, Blackville, S.C. There were highly significant differences for entry effects for WDS index, percent uninjured roots, percent flea beetle infestations, and percent grub infestations. Nine entries had a significantly higher percentage of undamaged than 'SC1149 19', and 13 entries had a significantly lower WDS rating than 'SC1149 19'.