EVALUATION OF POTATO VARIETIES FOR RESISTANCE TO MAJOR INSECT PESTS IN WEST GODAVARI, ANDHRA PRADESH (RABI 2018)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the rabi season of 2018 at the College of
Horticulture, Venkataramannagudem, to evaluate the response of eight potato (Solanum tuberosum
L.) varieties—Kufri Surya, Kufri Badshah, Kufri Chandramukhi, Kufri Chipsona-3, Kufri Jyoti, Kufri
Pukhraj, Kufri Khyathi and Kufri Himalini (sourced from CPCRI, Jalandhar)–to major insect pests.
The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. The
occurrence of sucking pests, namely whitefly and leafhopper, was first observed during the 41st
Standard Meteorological Week (SMW), whereas foliage-feeding pests such as tobacco caterpillar and
gram pod borer appeared during the 42nd SMW. Pest population gradually increased and crossed
the Economic Threshold Level (ETL) during the first and second weeks of November in most
varieties; however, in Kufri Badshah and Kufri Surya, ETL was reached during the fourth week
of November. Peak pest incidence was recorded during the third and fourth weeks of December.
Among the varieties, Kufri Khyathi was highly susceptible, recording the highest populations of
whitefly (21.44 no./plant), leafhopper (21.97 no./plant), epilachna beetle (20.38 no./plant) and tobacco
caterpillar (21.53 no./plant). In contrast, Kufri Badshah exhibited the lowest pest infestation with
whitefly (5.36 no./plant), leafhopper (3.27 no./plant), epilachna beetle (4.66 no./plant) and tobacco
caterpillar (5.80 no./plant), indicating tolerance to major insect pests. Yield performance revealed
that Kufri Badshah ranked second, next to Kufri Surya. Based on pest incidence and yield, Kufri
Badshah was found to be suitable for cultivation under the prevailing agro-climatic conditions.