Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-4rdpn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-15T00:18:22.876Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Effects of cultural practices on reducing field infestation of potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea operculella) and greening of tubers in the Sudan

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

M. A. Ali
Affiliation:
Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Khartoum, Shambat, Sudan

Summary

The population dynamics of the potato tuber moth (PTM) Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) and the influence of potato cultivar, planting date, planting depth, hilling-up, irrigation intervals and mulching on insect infestation and on the greening of tubers in the field were studied at Shambat, Khartoum North, Sudan in the 1987/88 and 1988/89 winter seasons.

The insect population initially increased slowly, then more rapidly after crop establishment and throughout the harvest period, after which it declined sharply. Tuber shape and skin characteristics had no effect on the degree of PTM infestation. Planting in the second week of November resulted in less insect damage and a significantly greater total yield compared with crops planted 3 weeks later. Greater depth of planting and more frequent hilling-up significantly lowered infestation levels and reduced the greening of tubers; for example, insect damage in early planted crops ranged from 3·3% (planting 10 cm deep and hilling-up thrice) to 16% (planting at 5 cm depth and hilling-up once).

Irrigation and mulching both significantly reduced PTM damage and the greening of tubers.

Light irrigation every 4 days and mulching with neem (Azadirachta indica) leaves during the last 4 weeks before harvest were the most effective treatments.

Significant reductions in losses inflicted by PTM and by the greening of tubers were therefore achieved by the manipulation of crop husbandry practices.

Type
Crops and Soils
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Akhade, M. N., Tidke, P. M. & Patkar, M. B. (1970). Control of potato tuber moth (Gnorimoschema operculella Zell.) in Deccan plateau through insecticides and depth of planting. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 49, 10711076.Google Scholar
Bacon, O. G., Burton, V. E. & Wyman, J. A. (1978). Management of insect pests on potatoes. California Agriculture 32 (2), 2627.Google Scholar
Brown, D. & Keeler, R. F. (1978). Structure–activity relation of steroid teratogens. 3. Solanidan epimers. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 26, 566569.Google Scholar
Collantes, L. G., Raman, K. V. & Cisneros, F. H. (1986). Effect of six synthetic pyrethroids on two populations of potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), in Peru. Crop Protection 5, 355357.Google Scholar
El Assal, A. M. A. (1985). A study of the biology and control of the potato tuber moth(Phthorimaea operculella Zell.) on cultivated and stored potato. MSc thesis, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Khartoum.Google Scholar
Foot, M. A. (1974 a). Field assessment of several insecticides against the potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea operculella Zell. Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) at Pukekohe. New Zealand Journal of Experimental Agriculture 2, 191197.Google Scholar
Foot, M. A. (1974 b). Cultural practices in relation to infestation of potato crops by the potato tuber moth. I. Effect of irrigation and ridge width. New Zealand Journal of Experimental Agriculture 2, 447450.Google Scholar
Foot, M. A. (1976). Cultural practices in relation to infestation of potato crops by the potato tuber moth. II. Effect of seed depth, re-moulding, pre-harvest defoliation, and delayed harvest. New Zealand Journal of Experimental Agriculture 4, 121124.Google Scholar
Haines, C. P. (1977). The Potato Tuber Moth (Phthorimaea operculella Zell.): A Bibliography of Recent Literature and Review of its Biology and Control on Potatoes in the Field and in Store. London: Tropical Products Institute.Google Scholar
Jadhav, S. J. & Salunkhe, D. K. (1975). Formation and control of chlorophyll and glycoalkaloids in tubers of Solanum tuberosum L and evaluation of glycoalkaloid toxicity. Advances in Food Research 21, 307354.Google Scholar
Little, T. M. & Hills, F. J. (1978). Agricultural Experimentation: Design and Analysis. New York: John Wiley & Sons.Google Scholar
Raman, K. V., Booth, R. H. & Palacios, M. (1987). Control of potato tuber moth Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) in rustic potato stores. Tropical Science 27, 175194.Google Scholar
Saxena, A. P. & Rizvi, S. M. (1974). Insect pest problems of potato in India. Journal of the Indian Potato Association 11, 4550.Google Scholar
Shelton, A. M. & Wyman, J. A. (1979 a). Time of tuber infestation and relationships between pheromone catches of adult moths, foliar larval populations, and tuber damage by the potato tuberworm. Journal of Economic Entomology 72, 599601.Google Scholar
Shelton, A. M. & Wyman, J. A. (1979 b). Seasonal patterns of potato tuber worm moth abundance as determined by pheromone trapping. Environmental Entomology 8, 541543.Google Scholar
Siddig, A. S. (1981). Evaluation of insecticides for the control of tuber moth, cutworm, white flies and aphids infesting potato. Annual Report, Entomology Section, Shambat Research Station, Agricultural Research Corporation, Sudan.Google Scholar
Siddig, A. S. (1982). Evaluation of some cultural practices for the control of cutworms and potato tuber moth damage. Annual Report, Entomology Section, Shambat Research Station, Sudan.Google Scholar
von Arx, R., Ewell, P. T., Goueder, J., Essamet, M., Cheikh, M. & Ben Temine, A. (1988). Management of the potato tuber moth by Tunisian farmers: A report on onfarm monitoring and a socioeconomic survey. Lima: International Potato Center in collaboration with Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique de Tunisie (INRAT).Google Scholar
Yousif, K. S. & Wustman, R. (1989). Storability of potatoes in rural developed pit stores and in mechanically cooled stores in Sudan. Report number 716. Institute for Storage and Processing of Agricultural Produce, The Netherlands.Google Scholar