The Major Sweet Potato Weevils; Management and Control: A Review

Hongbo Z,Kyereko Wt,Amoanimaa-Dede H,Meiwei G,Yeboah A

doi:10.35248/2171-0983.8.218

Abstract

Sweet potato is an important food crop, grown commonly in tropical and subtropical regions, but production has been subjected to less research worldwide, compared to the major staple crops. Sweet potato weevils are the major destructive pest causing drastic yield decline and resulting in a decrease in millions of dollar annually. A wide range of management strategies in controlling sweet potato weevils includes; cultural method, chemical method, biological method, Sterile Insect Technique, soil management, Sterile Insect Release, pheromone traps, Host Plant Resistance and Integrated Pest Management. However, the chemical method is limited by larvae internal feeding, whilst the biological approach has been constraints to some point. The pheromone method has enhanced for monitoring of sweet potato weevils, but adapting to integrated pest management is most highly effective and environmentally safe to growers. This paper reviews the factors that contribute to the infestation of weevils, mode of infestation, and various control management strategies towards decreasing the infestation of weevils in the plantation of sweet potato.

Highlights

Sweet potato belongs to Convolvulaceae family with more than a hundred developing countries, known to cultivate sweet potato and are ranked the 5th most essential foodstuff in over 50 of those countries [1] and globally, 7th amongst the entire food production [2], but has lesser experimental work than other staples such as potato (Solanum tuberosum) and wheat (Triticum aestivum)
Researchers have found that sweet potato contains anti-oxidative properties [9], making sweet potato increasing the importance in developed countries, but in less developed areas, hower, attention is towards raising the nutritional value of the product [10,11]
This review aimed to summarize the infestation of sweet potato weevils, mode of infestation of weevils on sweet potato and various control strategies towards decreasing infestation of weevils in sweet potato plantation, increasing yield

Summary

Introduction

Sweet potato belongs to Convolvulaceae family with more than a hundred developing countries, known to cultivate sweet potato and are ranked the 5th most essential foodstuff in over 50 of those countries [1] and globally, 7th amongst the entire food production [2], but has lesser experimental work than other staples such as potato (Solanum tuberosum) and wheat (Triticum aestivum). Sweet potato as an economic value crop, the vital staple food, grown in over one hundred different countries, its main root and tuber grown in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world in the developing world [3]. Due to sweet potato superior qualities, it has given great potential for reducing hunger, in low-income households in developing countries [5]. Sweet potato provides a source of calories, vitamins, dietary fiber, and potassium, especially in rural areas [7,8]. Researchers have found that sweet potato contains anti-oxidative properties [9], making sweet potato increasing the importance in developed countries, but in less developed areas, hower, attention is towards raising the nutritional value of the product [10,11]. Carotenoids in sweet potato have helped in avoiding nutritional deficiency in children [7,12,13]

Objectives

Findings

Conclusion