Screening for Resistance of Potato Lines to the Potato Tuberworm, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

Abstract The potato tuberworm, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (PTW), is one of the most important limitations to potato, Solanum tuberosum L., productivity worldwide. Leaves, stems, petioles and more importantly, potato tubers, in the field and storage can be seriously affected. Due to the relatively recent arrival of the PTW in the United States Pacific Northwest, the local and regional lines have never been screened for tuber resistance to PTW. Thus, the objective of this study was to screen regional potato lines for potential PTW resistance by tubers under field and laboratory conditions. Experiments were conducted at the Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Hermiston Oregon in 2006 and 2007. Accessions that had few number of mines per tuber were AC97521-1R/Y, Q174-2, Rubi, Yuguima, Paciencia, TM-3, KWPTM24 and CIP 780660; lines than had few larvae per tuber were A97287-6, PA00N10-5, AC97521-1R/Y, Q174-2, PA04LNC2-1, PA04LNC4-1, TM-3 and CIP 780660. Incorporating host plant resistance to tuber penetra-tion by PTW larvae together with appropriate cultural practices including limitation of exposure time of tubers in the field and judicious use of chemicals may provide the best sustainable management option. Resumen La polilla de la papa, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller), es una de las plagas más importantes que limita la producción del cultivo de papa, Solanum tuberosum L., en el mundo. Hojas, tallos, peciolos, y especialmente los tubérculos son afectados. Debido a la relativa “nueva ” lle-gada de esta plaga a la región del Pacífico Norte de los Estados Unidos, el material local y regional nunca fue evaluado para resistencia a la polilla de la papa. Así, el objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el material regional en el campo y en el laboratorio. Los experimentos se condu-jeron en La Estación Experimental de Investigació