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Title: IMPACT OF CROP PESTICIDES ON THE REPRODUCTIVE ABILITY OF WILD POTATO SPECIES

Author
item CENTENO-DIAZ, RUTH - HUANCAYO, PERU
item SALAS-LOPEZ, ALBERTO - INT'L POTATO CENTER, PERU
item DEL RIO, ALFONSO - UNIV OF WI - MADISON
item Bamberg, John
item ROCA, WILLIAM - INT'L POTATO CENTER, PERU

Submitted to: American Journal of Potato Research
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2006
Publication Date: 2/1/2007
Citation: Centeno-Diaz, R., Salas-Lopez, A., Del Rio, A., Bamberg, J.B., Roca, W. 2007. Impact of crop pesticides on the reproductive ability of wild potato species [abstract]. American Journal of Potato Research. 84:81.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: THERE is an interest in the status of wild potato populations in nature, since they serve as an in situ "genebank" of germplasm for future use in research and breeding. In their natural habitats, some wild potato species grow in close proximity to cultivated fields and thus may be exposed to agrichemical applications. But little is known about the possible effects. The present study investigated changes in reproductive traits of potato species as a result of exposure to a common pesticide. The plant materials used were 23 wild species maintained at CIP's Potato Genebank. The evaluations were conducted in screenhouse plantings in the highlands of central Peru in the locality of Huancayo in Junin province. A preliminary poll conducted as part of this study identified the pesticide Furadan 4F (carbofuran, an insecticide and nematicide) as the most common chemical used by potato growers in that region. Two different concentrations (3.0 ppm and 4.5 ppm) as well as a blank control were used to test the pesticide's effect on the species. Onset of flowering, pollen viability, duration of flowering, number of berries set, number of seeds, and number of tubers were affected by the application of the pesticide in some species. For instance, Solanum cajamarquense (onset of flowering), S. albicans (pollen viability) and S. acaule (duration of flowering) were cases of significant decrease. These results suggest that agrichemicals may play a role in changing the reproductive fitness and population structures of native wild potato species in proximity to cultivated fields. If so, these sites, although relatively easy to access, may provide an inferior sample for the ex situ genebank than more remote populations that have been isolated from human influence.