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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wapato, Washington » Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #302413
Title: Variation in Bactericera cockerelli (Hemiptera: Triozidae) oviposition, survival, and development on Solanum bulbocastanum germplasm

Author
item Cooper, William - Rodney
item Bamberg, John

Submitted to: American Journal of Potato Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/16/2014
Publication Date: 6/25/2014
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/60092
Citation: Cooper, W.R., Bamberg, J.B. 2014. Variation in Bactericera cockerelli (Hemiptera: Triozidae) oviposition, survival, and development on Solanum bulbocastanum germplasm. American Journal of Potato Research. DOI 10.1007/s12230-014-9384-x.

Interpretive Summary: The potato psyllid is a major pest of potato in the western United States. This insect transmits the pathogen that causes zebra chip disease, which renders tubers unmarketable. Currently, this disease is controlled using insecticides to kill the insect vector, but current research efforts seek to develop new ways to control potato psyllid and zebra chip disease. Wild potato germplasm provides genetic sources of desirable traits, including insect resistance, which can be bred into marketable potato cultivars. USDA-ARS researchers in Wapato, WA and in Sturgeon Bay, WI screened populations of a wild potato species, Solanum bulbocastanum, for resistance to the potato psyllid. They found that susceptibility to the potato psyllid varied among populations of this potato species, and at least six populations were resistant to the potato psyllid. This was the first report to document the variation among wild potato germplasm in their susceptibility to the potato psyllid. These findings will help breeders to develop new potato cultivars that are resistant to the potato psyllid, which will provide cost-effective control of the potato psyllid and zebra chip disease without the use of insecticides.

Technical Abstract: The potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli, is a key pest of potato and important vector of the pathogen that causes zebra chip disease. Control of zebra chip relies entirely on the use of insecticides to reduce populations of this vector. The development of potato varieties resistant to B. cockerelli would contribute to cost-effective control of this insect. Wild potato germplasm are key sources for desirable traits including pest resistance to develop new potato cultivars. Our objective was to screen Solanum bulbocastanum germplasm for resistance to B. cockerelli. The combined use of choice and no-choice assays demonstrated considerable variability among S. bulbocastanum populations in their susceptibility to psyllids. At least six S. bulbocastanum populations exhibited resistance to B. cockerelli: PI 243512, PI 243513, PI 255518, PI 275194, PI 275197, and PI 283096. The documentation of the variability among S. bulbocastanum germplasm populations in their susceptibility to B. cockerelli can aid the development of potato cultivars that are naturally resistant to the potato psyllid.