- E-ISSN: 2223-506X
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oa Evaluation of cultural control practices in the management of sweetpotato weevil (Cylas puncticollis) Boheman (Colepotera: Curculionidae)
- Source: QScience Connect, Volume 2013, Issue 1, يونيو ٢٠١٣, 44
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- ٣٠ سبتمبر ٢٠١٣
- ١٤ نوفمبر ٢٠١٣
- ٠١ يناير ٢٠١٤
ملخص
The sweetpotato weevil, Cylas puncticollis Boheman, constitutes a major constraint to sweet potato production and utilization in Africa. Host plant resistance/tolerance, mulching and varying harvesting dates could provide an approach that fits well into an integrated pest management programme of this insect pest. In this study, a trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of host plant, mulching with freshly harvested, dried and chopped up aerial parts of elephant grass (Panicum maximum), and the manipulation of harvesting date, on crop damage by the sweetpotato weevil. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete split-split plot design with three replications. Four sweet potato varieties (improved variety- kabbia, slipot 2, slipot 3 and slipot 4), four harvesting dates (90, 104, 118 and 132 days after planting (DAP)) and four mulching levels (0t/ha, 1t/ha, 3t/ha and 5t/ha) were used. Data analysis revealed significant differences in C. puncticollis tuber damage and number of tubers produced with respect to mulching. Cylas puncticollis incidence was observed to decrease with increase in mulching level. Also, significant cultivar variation with respect to C. puncticollis tuber damage and the total number of tubers produced were recorded. Slipot 3 and slipot 4 were observed to be significantly less susceptible to the sweetpotato weevil. Harvesting date was also significantly different, with respect to the number of damaged tubers. More tubers were damaged when harvesting was delayed. Hence, using slipot 3 or slipot 4, coupled with mulching at the rate of 3-5t/ha and harvesting at 104 DAP resulted in increased number of tubers and reduced sweetpotato weevil infestation in the field.
