ARS | Publication request: Evaluation of Advanced Sweetpotato Genotypes For Resistance To Soil Insect Pests, 2006

Submitted to: Arthropod Management Tests
Publication Type: Research Notes
Publication Acceptance Date: December 28, 2007
Publication Date: October 1, 2008
Citation: Jackson, D.M. 2008. Evaluation of Advanced Sweetpotato Genotypes For Resistance To Soil Insect Pests, 2006. Arthropod Management Tests. Volume 33, Report No. M2, 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. This field experiment included two insect susceptible check cultivars (`Beauregard¿and `SC1149 19¿), two insect resistant check cultivar (`Charleston Scarlet¿ and `Ruddy¿), and 35 advanced genotypes from this program that were evaluated for insect resistance in field trials of three replications at the USVL. 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. Twenty-four sweetpotato genotypes had a significantly higher percentage of uninjured roots than SC1149 19, and 9 genotypes had significantly higher percentage of undamaged roots than Beauregard. Ten genotypes had a significantly smaller WDS rating than Beauregard, and all but one genotype had a significantly smaller WDS rating than did SC1149 19. SC1149 19¿ also had a significantly higher percentage infestation by flea beetles, white grubs, and sweetpotato weevils than any other genotype.