2007 Annual Report
1a.Objectives (from AD-416)
Evaluate candidate insecticdes and management strategies for pests of sweetpotatoes in Mississippi. Demonstrate good pest management practices in the culture of sweetpotatoes.
1b.Approach (from AD-416)
Establish small plot, replicated tests on farms of small producers in the Delta of Mississippi to test insect pests of sweetpotatoes. Monitor plots weekly using all currently available scouting techniques to determine insect numbers and need for management activities. Spray plots as needed.
3.Progress Report
This report serves to document research conducted under a Specific Cooperative Agreement between Mississippi State University and ARS. Additional details for this subordinate project may be found in the in-house project 6402-22000-045-00D, “Integrated Pest Management for Mid-South Area Row Crops.” Plots of sweet potato, variety Beauregard, were planted at the Alcorn State Demonstration Farm for the purpose of evaluating efficacy and benefit of insecticides applied as foliarly during the season. Insects expected in the samples included flea beetles (Chaetocnema spp., Systena spp.), cucumber beetles (primarily Diabrotica undecimpunctata howrdi Barber [12 spotted cucumber beetle]), whitefringed beetle (Graphongnatus spp.), and various click beetles and lepidobtera larve. Sugarcane beetle, Euetheola humilis regicips (LeConte), and the whitefringed beetle were not found in any of the vacuum or other samples at the Mound Bayou location; however, some potatoes had damage identified as that from both insect pests. There were no statistically significant differences between means of the untreated (water) check and plots and means of insect numbers found under vines on two sample dates. This agreement was monitored by several site visits.
|