Sweetpotato Ipomoea batatas (L.) Varietal Response to Sweetpotato Weevils Infestation under Different Production Conditions in Southern Ghana

2019

English

Background and Objective: Sweetpotato is an important crop widely cultivated in many developing countries and insect pests are major production constraint. This study aimed to examine the response of different varieties to sweetpotato weevils (SPW) infestation under different ecological and cropping conditions. Materials and Methods: Ten sweetpotato plants were randomly harvested from each of 125 farms in 3 ecological zones. Leaves were examined for characteristic punctures, base of vines bisected for presence of tunnel and larvae and storage roots assessed for burrows. Results: Four sweetpotato weevils, Cylas puncticollis, Cylas formicarius, Cylas brunneus and Alcidodes spp. were identified with C. puncticollis as the pre-dominant species. Population density of SPWs and damage to foliage, vine base and storage root yield loss were significantly higher in transitional than savanna and semi-deciduous ecological zones. Local sweetpotato varieties did not show superior tolerance to SPW over improved varieties. The influence of cropping system on C. puncticollis was also not explicit. Conclusion: Sweetpotato in the transitional zone was more prone to SPW and driving factors must be further investigated. Local sweetpotato varieties did not exhibit higher tolerance to SPW over improved ones and therefore; increased adoption will enhance productivity and improve nutrition.

Issa, U. S.; Frimpong-Anin, K.; Danso, Y.; Baafi, E.; Adomako, J.; Obeng, P.; Barimah, H.; Osei, K.; Baimey, H.