Resistance of Sweet Potato Cultivars to African Sweet Potato Weevil1

Abstract

Twenty sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) cultivars, including two orange‐fleshed and 18 white‐fleshed types, were evaluated in the field for resistance to African sweet potato weevil (Cylas puncticollis Boh.). The cultivars showed significant differences in weevil resistance in separate evaluation of roots and shoots. Cultivars with the most resistant roots were ‘TIS 3053’ and ‘TIS 3030.’ Cultivars with the most resistant shoots were ‘TIS 2532,’ ‘TIS 3017,’ and TIS 3030. A highly significant correlation (r = 0.74) was noted between weevil damage ratings of roots and damage ratings of shoots.A highly significant negative correlation between weevil root damage scores and root dry matter percentage was obtained (r = −0.56), but fresh root yield or average weight were not correlated with weevil damage.