Resistance of Potato Germplasm to the Potato Tuberworm (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

Abstract

The evaluation of potato germplasm for resistance to potato tuberworm, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is a valuable component of integrated pest management; however, few attempts have been made to identify natural genetic tuber resistance to tuberworm on potato germplasm. The objective of this study was to screen potato germplasm with potential tuberworm resistance for tuber resistance under field and laboratory conditions. Experiments were conducted over a 2-yr period at the Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Hermiston, OR. Of 125 germplasm that were tested in 2006, q13 were selected for further screening in 2007. These germplasm were: A0008-1TE, A97066LB, NY123, PA00N10-5, PA99N2, PA99N82, Paciencia, Q174-2, Russet Burbank, Rubi, Ranger Russet, Spunta G2, and T88-4. Tuber resistance of potato germplasm was determined based on the number of mines per tuber and the number of live larvae. Tubers of transgenic clone Spunta G2 were resistant to tuberworm damage. All other germplasm tested in this study, including Russet Burbank and Ranger Russet, were susceptible to tuberworm in the field and laboratory experiments. Incorporation of host plant resistance to tuber penetration by larvae together with appropriate cultural practices including limiting exposure time of tubers in the field may provide the best management option in the future.

Life Table Parameters of <I>Phthorimaea operculella</I> (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), Feeding on Tubers of Six Potato Cultivars

“…For P. operculella, few biological studies on potato cultivars have been published (Das et al 1993;Malakar and Tingey 1999;Malakar and Tingey 2006;Rondon et al 2009), and to our knowledge, life table parameters of this insect on leaves of different potato cultivars has never been previously reported.…”

Pest Management Strategies for Potato Insect Pests in the Pacific Northwest of the United States

“…For example, tubers of the transgenic clone Spunta G2 are resistant to the potato tuberworm (Douches et al, 2002). Rondon et al, (2009) tested several cultivars including Spunta G2 with excellent results. However the public perception regarding genetically-modified organisms is still "blocking" the widely use of this type of resources.…”

Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller, 1873), first record of an invasive pest in Hungary (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae)

“…It was first recorded in California in 1856 (Rondon, 2010). However, it was not a major concern for growers in the Pacific Northwest until 2002, when severe potato tuberworm damage was documented in a field near Hermiston, Oregon (Rondon et al, 2013). It occurs widely in Africa, Asia, Europe, Americas and Oceania (Trivedi and Rajagopal, 1992;Vargas et al, 2004;Kroschel et al, 2013).…”