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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Charleston, South Carolina » Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #130300
Title: EVALUATION OF REGIONAL SWEETPOTATO ENTRIES FOR RESISTANCE TO SOIL INSECT PESTS, 1996

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, 1996. ARTHROPOD MANAGEMENT TESTS. 2002. v.27. Report No. M-15.

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 1996 National Sweetpotato Collaborator Trials. Twelve 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 1996 National Sweetpotato Collaborator Trials. Three insect-susceptible check cultivars ('Beauregard', 'Porto Rico', and SC1149-19), an intermediate check ('Jewel'), an insect-resistant check ('Regal'), and seven 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. All of the regional lines except two had significantly more uninjured roots than did SC1149-19. High levels of resistance to WDS was observed for 'Regal', W-323, and NC-91-14. No regional entry was significantly more resistant to flea beetles than 'Beauregard'. 'Regal' and NC-91-09 were highly resistant to grub attack.