title: Comparative life history and fecundity of Phthorimaea operculella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) on leaves and tubers of different potato cultivars.
abstract: The potato tuberworm, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is a noxious pest of the potato crop (Solanum tuberosum L.) in both field and storage in tropical and subtropical regions. Survival, development and reproduction of the potato tuberworm was compared on leaves and tubers of 10 common cultivated potato cultivars including Agria, Agata, Almera, Arinda, Baneba, Fiana, Marfona, Ramus, Satina, and Volvox at 25 +/- 1 degree C, 65 +/- 5% RH and a photoperiod of 14:10 (L:D) h. The results indicated that there were significant differences in the larval, pupal, and total developmental periods on the various potato cultivars. The total developmental periods varied from 26.6 (on Baneba) to 29.5 d (on Marfona),and ranged from 27.9 (on Marfona) to 30.5 d (on Agria) in the experiments on potato leaves and tubers, respectively. Immature survival rates were lowest on Agria (44.1%) and Marfona (40.6%) on potato leaves and tubers, respectively. The highest total fecundity was observed on Arinda (78.3 eggs) and Ramus (154.8 egg) on potato leaves and tubers, respectively. Significantly fewer eggs were laid on Marfona cultivar's leaves (44.6 eggs) and tubers (72.9 eggs) than any of the other tested potato cultivars. The female reproduction potential on potato leaves was significantly lower than on potato tubers. Cluster analysis of the biological parameters of P. operculella on different potato cultivars demonstrated that Marfona is partially resistant to potato tuberworm. The findings on the susceptibility or resistance of potato cultivars could be a fundamental component of integrated pest management programs for potato tuberworm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, P.O. Box 179, Ardabil, Iran. golizadeh@uma.ac.ir
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Golizadeh
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Esmaeili
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000898:Antibiosis; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D009036:Moths / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D010063:Ovum / Q000254:growth & development; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics; D035281:Plant Tubers / Q000235:genetics; D011679:Pupa / Q000254:growth & development; D012744:Sex Ratio; D011198:Solanum tuberosum / Q000235:genetics; D013045:Species Specificity