Integrated pest management of potato tuber moth in field and storage

Abstract

SummaryThe potato tuber moth (PTM), Phthorimaea opercalella (Zeller), is one of the most damaging pests of potatoes in field and storage. Tuber moth is active throughout the year in North Africa but is most active from late April to early August. Many cultural practices that are used by farmers to improve the yield and quality of potato can also limit the development of the potato tuber moth and minimise damage to tubers. As the farmers gain more experience with both agronomic practices and chemical insecticides, they are likely to rely more heavily on cultural practices and less on insecticides to manage PTM. Measures which could keep PTM damages in rustic and diffuse light stores to a minimum are discussed. Ideally, there is need to integrate pest management in potato fields and stores. PTM control in stores was found to be more effective if infestation in fields was kept to a minimum. Low infestation at harvest and rapid handling of the potatoes going into store established good initial storage conditions and decreased the likelihood of post-harvest losses. Biological insecticides in particular were more effective in preventing losses by insects in stores in cases where the initial level of infestation was relatively low.

Potential of a granulovirus isolate to control Phthorimaea operculella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

“…Newly hatched larvae of PTM bores into leaves, shoots and stems of plants, as well as root tubers, and this feeding behavior makes it difficult to control this pest (Hanafi 1999;Sporleder et al 2007). PTM is becoming a serious problem in Brazil, particularly in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) crops.…”

Insecticidal Activity of the Granulosis Virus in Combination with Neem Products and Talc Powder Against the Potato Tuberworm Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

“…Several studies have demonstrated increasing susceptibility to nucleopolyhedrosis virus by additives such as fluorescent brighteners, GV-enhancing protein, and neem extract against lepidopteran hosts at low doses of each agent , 1999. Results from studies testing neem-based agents against insect pests vary depending on several factors, including neem preparation, concentration of azadirachtin, and insect species and age.…”

“…The potato tuberworm, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is an important economic pest of potato crops and stored potatoes, causing high yield losses in warm climates worldwide (Radcliffe 1982, Hanafi 1999. This pest, originating in South America, has spread to almost all potato-producing areas throughout the world (von Arx et al 1990, Rondon 2010.…”

“…Foliar damage to potato crops usually does not result in significant yield loss, but infested tubers and storage losses may reduce marketability as much as 100%, especially in nonrefrigerated systems (Rondon 2010). There are several different methods for controlling potato tuberworm pests (Hanafi 1999, Rondon 2010.…”

The Potato Tuberworm: A Literature Review of Its Biology, Ecology, and Control

“…In North Africa, the rapid increase in population of P. operculella in the field prior to harvest results in heavy infestation during storage von Arx et al 1988;BenSalah and Aalbu 1992;Salah et al 1994;Laarif et al 2003). Tubers stored for seed can be treated with pyrethroids and organophosphates in certain cases (Islam et al 1990;Das et al 1992;Hossain et al 1994;Hanafi 1999;Keasar et al 2005), although the practice can be illegal and life threatening when used inappropriately. Under rustic storage conditions in the Philippines, granulo-viruses (GV) at 5 kg • ton -1 of tubers has been effective for up to 2 months of storage; treatment combinations of GV + Bt + deltametrhin + Lantana or deltamehtrin + Bt + GV yielded zero to low pest infestation; Bt alone was ineffective (Das et al 1992).…”