Response of European corn borer ( Ostrinia nubilalis, Hubner) to two potato hybrids selected for resistance to Colorado potato beetle

Abstract

The response of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner) to K411-2 and NYL 235-4, fifth- and sixth-generation potato accessions derived from crosses between Solanum tuberosum L. and S. berthaultii (Hawkes) and selected for resistance to Colorado potato beetle ( Leptinotarsa decemlineata, Say) and potato leafhopper ( Empoasca fabae, Harris), was measured in field and greenhouse experiments. In one field test, which did not include NYL 235-4, the incidence of corn-borer damaged stems was eight times higher in the commercial potato varieties Atlantic, Superior and Norland than in K411-2. In a later field test, there were 11 times more European corn-borer damaged potato stems on Atlantic than on NYL 235-4. In a choice experiment, European corn-borer moths deposited significantly more egg masses on the susceptible Kennebec variety (72.9%) than on NYL 235-4 (27.1%), but in the absence of a choice, equal numbers of egg masses were deposited on both varieties. In a greenhouse experiment, fewer European corn-borer larvae (44%) were established on NYL 235-4 than on Kennebec plants.