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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Charleston, South Carolina » Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #130315
Title: EVALUATION OF ADVANCED SWEETPOTATO ENTRIES FOR RESISTANCE TO SOIL INSECT PESTS, 1997

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 ADVANCED SWEETPOTATO ENTRIES FOR RESISTANCE TO SOIL INSECT PESTS, 1997. ARTHROPOD MANAGEMENT TESTS. 2002. v.27. Report M-10.

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 clones from the USDA-ARS/Clemson program at Charleston, SC, 1997. Twenty-two entries, including two insect-susceptible check cultivars, were evaluated for insect resistance in replicated field trials at Charleston, SC. Some of the advanced 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 USDA-ARS/Clemson program at the U. S. Vegetable Laboratory (USVL), ,Charleston, SC, 1997. Two insect-susceptible check cultivars ('Porto Rico' and SC1149-19), an intermediate check ('Jewel'), an insect-resistant check ('Regal'), and 18 advanced clones were evaluated for insect resistance in replicated field trials at the USVL. 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. Fifteen of the advanced entries had a significantly higher percentage of uninjured roots than did SC1149-19. All of the advanced lines were significantly more resistant to WDS than were the standard cultivar SC1149-19. Five of the advanced lines were also significantly more resistant to WDS than 'Jewel'. Sixteen of the entries were significantly more resistant to sweetpotato flea beetles and 15 were more resistant to grubs than was SC1149-19.