ARS | Publication request: Evaluation of Regional Sweetpotato Entries for Resistance to Soil Insect Pests, 2002.

Submitted to: Arthropod Management Tests
Publication Acceptance Date: March 10, 2004
Publication Date: August 1, 2004
Publisher's URL: http://www.entsoc.org/pubs/index.html.
Citation: Jackson, D.M., Bohac, J. 2004. Evaluation Of Regional Sweetpotato Entries For Resistance To Soil Insect Pests, 2002. Arthropod Management Tests. Volume 29. Online Journal At HTTP://WWW.ENTSOC.ORG/PUBS/INDEX.HTML.

Interpretive Summary: Most commercial sweetpotato cultivars have little resistance to soil insect pests, which can severely limit marketable yields. Thus, there is a need to develop new cultivars that have increased levels of insect resistance. This report describes the field evaluation of advanced sweetpotato entries from the 2002 National Sweetpotato Collaborator Trials. Fifteen entries, including four insect susceptible check cultivars and two insect resistant check cultivars, were evaluated for insect resistance in replicated field trials at Charleston and Bamberg Co, SC. Some of the regional lines were more resistant to soil insect pests than were the susceptible check cultivars. The most promising of these advanced clones will be developed as breeding lines or new sweetpotato cultivars.

Technical Abstract: Four insect susceptible cultivars ('Beauregard', 'Hernandez', 'Porto Rico', and 'SC 1149-19'), two insect-resistant cultivars ('Regal' and 'Sumor'), and 9 regional entries from the 2002 National Sweetpotato Collaborator Trials were evaluated for insect resistance in replicated field trials at Charleston and in Bamberg Co., SC. At Charleston, all regional entries had significantly lower WDS index (Wireworm, Diabrotica, Systena) ratings than 'SC 1149 19', and the highest levels of WDS resistance were for 'Regal', 'Sumor', W 366, and W 375. These entries were also significantly more resistant than the standard cultivars 'Beauregard' and 'Hernandez'. All regional entries except W 370 and W 372 had significantly lower infestation levels of flea beetles than 'SC 1149 19', however, none of the regional entries were significantly more resistant to flea beetles than the other standard entries 'Beauregard', 'Hernandez', or 'Porto Rico'. At Bamberg County, 'Regal' and six of the regional entries were significantly more resistant to WDS than 'SC 1149 19', 'Beauregard', or 'Hernandez'. All entries, except MS K55 and NC 97A 04, were more resistant to flea beetles than was 'SC 1149-19'. 'Regal' and four of the regional lines (W-365, W-366, W-372, and W-375) had no observable flea beetle damage.