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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wapato, Washington » Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #228777
Title: Impact of Different Potato Psyllid Populations on Zebra Chip Disease Incidence, Severity, and Potato Yield

Author
item Munyaneza, Joseph - Joe
item Buchman, Jeremy
item Upton, Jeffrey
item Goolsby, John
item Crosslin, James
item BESTER, GERHARD - FRITO LAY, PLANO, TX
item Miles, Godfrey
item SENGODA, VENKATESAN - USDA ARS, YAKIMA, WA

Submitted to: Subtropical Plant Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/12/2008
Publication Date: 12/31/2008
Citation: Munyaneza, J.E., Buchman, J.L., Upton, J.E., Goolsby, J., Crosslin, J., Bester, G., Miles, G.P., Sengoda, V.G. 2008. Impact of Different Potato Psyllid Populations on Zebra Chip Disease Incidence, Severity, and Potato Yield. Subtropical Plant Science 60:27-37.

Interpretive Summary: Zebra chip (ZC) is an emerging and damaging potato disease that is causing millions of dollars in losses to the potato industry in the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America. This potato disease has recently been associated with the potato psyllid. Researchers at USDA-ARS Wapato, Prosser, Weslaco, and Frito-Lay conducted studies to document the impact of different geographic populations of the potato psyllid on ZC incidence, severity, and potato yield. It was determined that this insect pest significantly reduced the potato yield up to 93% and that tubers from ZC-infected plants produced unmarketable potato chips. It was also discovered that ZC symptom severity in fried chips was correlated with ZC severity in raw tubers and with tuber weight. Information from this research will help affected potato producers reduce damage caused by this disease by effectively monitoring and controlling this insect vector.

Technical Abstract: Zebra chip (ZC) is an emerging and damaging potato disease that is causing millions of dollars in losses to the potato industry in the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America. ZC plant symptoms resemble those caused by potato purple top and psyllid yellows diseases. Tubers produced by ZC-infected potato plants exhibit internal necrosis that affects the entire tuber. Fried chips processed from ZC-infected tubers have a characteristic striped pattern of necrosis and are unmarketable. This potato disease has recently been associated with the potato psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli Sulc). A field experiment was conducted in southern Texas, under controlled cage conditions, to document the impact of different geographic populations of potato psyllid on ZC incidence, severity, and potato yield. Nine different colonies of psyllids were used in the study. Results showed that potato plants exposed to potato psyllids developed typical ZC symptoms in raw tubers and fried chips. ZC incidence in potato plants ranged from 0 to 100%. Not all insects used in the study were infective and only six psyllid colonies induced ZC symptoms in potatoes. No ZC symptoms were observed in psyllid-free control plots. Results indicated that ZC symptom severity in fried chips was correlated with ZC severity in raw tubers and with tuber weight. The impact of potato psyllid on potato yield and processing quality was highly significant. The number of commercially acceptable tubers per plant was significantly reduced and up to 93% potato yield loss occurred when potato plants were exposed to psyllids. Tubers from ZC-infected plants produced unmarketable potato chips.