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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Charleston, South Carolina » Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #130391
Title: EVALUATION OF REGIONAL SWEETPOTATO ENTRIES FOR RESISTANCE TO SOIL INSECT PESTS, 2001

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, 2001. ARTHROPOD MANAGEMENT TESTS. 2002. v.27. Report No. M-20

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 2001 National Sweetpotato Collaborator Trials. Nineteen entries, including four insect-susceptible checks, 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 2001 National Sweetpotato Collaborator Trials. Four insect-susceptible cultivars ('Beauregard', 'Hernandez', 'Porto Rico', and 'SC1149-19'), two insect-resistant cultivars ('Regal' and 'Ruddy'), and 13 regional entries were evaluated for insect resistance in a replicated field trial 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, but not for percent weevil-damaged (Cylas formicarius elegantulus [Summers]) roots. The highest levels of resistance to WDS were for 'Regal' 'Ruddy', W-311, W-328, W-334, W-359, W-365, W-366, and W-370, which were significantly more resistant than the standard cultivars SC1149-19, 'Beauregard', and 'Hernandez'. All regional entries had significantly lower infestation levels of flea beetles than SC1149-19. All regional entries, except MS-K39, had significantly lower infestations of white grub larvae than SC1149-19. L94-96, 'Regal', 'Ruddy', W-311, W-328, W-334, and W-366 were also significantly more resistant to grubs than 'Beauregard' in this test.