Pest Of Potato Research Articles

Efficacy of some chemical insecticides and plant extracts combined with Bacillus thuringiensis against Phthorimaea operculella

Abstract Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller, 1873) is one of the most damaging pests of potatoes in the world. Since the chemical pesticides play a key role in managing of potato tuber moth (PTM), the present study was conducted to assess the efficacy of Proteus®, Takumi®, Avaunt®, Dorsban®, Decis®, Consult® and Vertimec® against neonate larval penetration and one-day-old eggs of P. operculella. But adverse effects of chemical insecticides, actuated researchers to seek secure tools such as medicinal plants and biopesticides like Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner, 1715 for pest managements. Hence, we also examined toxicity of savory, ziziphora and cumin methanolic extracts against the pest under laboratory conditions. We also surveyed the synergistic/antagonistic interactions between the most effective insecticide and methanolic extract with Bt against PTM. Our results showed that both Vertimec® and savory synergized the performance of Bt against neonate larval penetration of P. operculella. Probit analysis of insecticides and methanolic extracts demonstrated that Vertimec® and Takumi® had high toxicities to the neonate larval penetration of PTM which exhibited LC50 values equivalent to 7.09 ppm and 0.008 g L−1, respectively. Savory was the most effective extract against larval penetration and hatching rate of the pest (LC50 = 440.36 and 635.93 ppm, respectively). Oviposition preference demonstrated that Vertimec® and Decis® exhibited inhibitory ovipositional effects against P. operculella.

Optimization and field evaluation of sex-pheromone of potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae).

The potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella is a key pest of potato and tobacco in China. We compared the sex pheromone titers released by P. operculella female, and the electroantennogram (EAG) responses of male antennae to pheromone compounds under laboratory conditions. Then, the optimal sex pheromone ratio was screened in the field. The P. operculella sex pheromone feeding on potato or tobacco was extracted by solvent-extraction method. Main sex pheromone compounds including E4, Z7-13: AC (PTM1) and E4, Z7, Z10-13: AC (PTM2) were found in gland. The titer and relative ratio of P. operculella sex pheromone compounds secreted by female adult moths differ between host populations, while the relative EAG responses trend of P. operculella males to the pheromone components were the same when directly stimulated. In field trials, PTM1:PTM2=8:1-4:1 and PTM1:PTM2=1:4-1:7 was the most attractive ratio to P. operculella males in tobacco and potato fields, respectively. During 2019-2020, after 8 weeks of mass trapping for each year, the sex pheromone could reduce the population of P. operculella in the potato and tobacco fields. In this study, fixed property and quantity analyzing methods were adopted to compare sex pheromones from feeding on potato versus tobacco. EAG tests then were carried out on P. operculella males. Finally, we optimized the ratio of two sex pheromone compounds in potato and examined how this influenced field trapping. By further improving the parameters of sex pheromone application in the field, we demonstrate that deployment of sex pheromones can provide effective control of P. operculella. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Improving a pest management tool for scenario analysis of economic populations of Globodera pallida

Summary Globodera pallida is the most damaging pest of potato in the UK. This work underpins enhancement of a well-established, web-based scenario analysis tool for its management by recommending additions and modifications of its required inputs and a change in the basis of yield loss estimates. The required annual decline rate of the dormant egg population is determined at the individual field sample level to help define the required rotation length by comparing the viable egg content of recovered cysts to that of newly formed cysts for the same projected area. The mean annual decline was 20.4 ± 1.4% but ranged from 4.0 to 39.7% annum−1 at the field level. Further changes were based on meta-analysis of previous field trials. Spring rainfall in the region where a field is located and cultivar tolerance influence yield loss. Tolerance has proved difficult to define for many UK potato cultivars in field trials but uncertainty can be avoided without detriment by replacing it with determinacy integers. They are already determined to support optimisation of nitrogen application rates. Multiple linear regression estimates that loss caused by pre-plant populations of up to 20 viable eggs (g soil)−1 varies from ca 0.2 to 2.0% (viable egg)−1 (g soil)−1 depending on cultivar determinacy and spring rainfall. Reliability of the outcomes from scenario analysis requires validation in field trials with population densities over which planting is advisable.

Virulence of Beauveria bassiana Strains Isolated from Cadavers of Colorado Potato Beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata.

Simple SummaryThe Colorado potato beetle is a serious insect pest, attacking mainly potato. This pest causes severe yield loss all over the world and it is difficult to control by chemical pesticides because it quickly develops resistance to them. In our study we investigated the potential of the fungus Beauveria bassiana, a natural pathogen of insects, to kill adults of the Colorado potato beetle. The novelty of this study is that strains of the fungus were isolated from naturally infected adults of the pest which were collected in potato fields in the Czech Republic. A suspension of B. bassiana spores was applied to test beetles and their survival was observed under constant conditions. Obtained results revealed that some strains of the fungus were able to kill almost all treated beetles in 21 days and can be therefore recommended for the development of a new biopesticide. The results of this study can thus be applied in effective biological control of the most serious pest of potato.The Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), is a serious, widely distributed pest of potato and other crops. This pest is able to defoliate the host plant and cause severe yield loss. Moreover, the pest quickly becomes resistant to many chemical pesticides. Therefore, the development of novel biopesticides targeting this pest is urgently needed. The purpose of this study was to obtain new strains of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana and assess their efficacy against L. decemlineata adults under laboratory conditions. Twelve strains were isolated from cadavers of Colorado potato beetles collected in potato fields in the Czech Republic. Test beetles were treated by suspensions of conidia at the concentration of 1 × 107 spores per milliliter and their survival was recorded daily for three weeks. The results of the bioassays revealed that all new native strains were pathogenic to L. decemlineata adults and caused mortality up to 100% at the end of the trial period with an LT50 of about 7 days. These strains were more virulent than a reference strain GHA and some of them can be recommended for the development of a new mycoinsecticide against L. decemlineata. Our findings also highlight the importance of searching for perspective strains of entomopathogenic fungi among naturally infected hosts.

Betting on RNAi for crop protection

The spotted bronze head and shiny black-and-yellow-striped wings of the Colorado potato beetle are an unwelcome sight for farmers. Though larvae and adults feed primarily on potato plants, the Colorado potato beetle also eats other plants in the Solanaceae family, otherwise known as the nightshades, famed for the potent alkaloid content in their leaves. To cope with eating the toxic leaves of these plants, the beetle has evolved mechanisms to metabolize toxins, including chemical pesticides . This ability has helped it become the world’s biggest potato pest since spreading from the Southwest US in the 1850s. Russ Groves, a professor and extension specialist in the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Entomology Department, has been studying insecticide resistance in agricultural systems for decades and says the potato growers he works with are all too familiar with the beetle’s special ability. “So if your question is, ‘Do Colorado potato beetles generate resistance?’ ” he says,

Low-Dose Insecticide Combinations for Colorado Potato Beetle Control

Colorado potato beetle (CPB) is the most notorious and problematic insect defoliator pest of potato. It is well known for its ability to develop resistance to chemical insecticides, so novel treatment methods must be developed. A possible solution is the application of newer groups of insecticides (biotechnical and biological insecticides) which are more selective and to which resistance has not yet been recorded. This work investigated the use of ecologically acceptable insecticide treatments: azadirachtin, spinosad and spinetoram, and their combinations against CPB larvae in laboratory and field conditions. Reduced dosing and combinational treatments were used to determine if effective protection against CPB could be achieved while also improving economic results. Our results from laboratory trials showed that combinations of low-dose azadirachtin (25%) and low-dose spinetoram (5%) are suitable for use in CPB integrated pest management. The results of the field trial showed that the use of 50% reduced dosage of spinosad and spinetoram resulted in high efficacy (89–99%) and can be recommended as a treatment method that provides effective control of CPB, improved economic results, and a positive environmental impact. Based on the advantages that these treatments offer compared to chemical insecticides, further work is recommended to determine if these combinational treatments used in other dosages or in combinations with some other ecologically acceptable insecticides can provide satisfactory control of CPB.

First Sprayable Double-Stranded RNA-Based Biopesticide Product Targets Proteasome Subunit Beta Type-5 in Colorado Potato Beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata).

Colorado potato beetle (CPB, Leptinotarsa decemlineata) is a major pest of potato and other solanaceous vegetables in the Northern Hemisphere. The insect feeds on leaves and can completely defoliate crops. Because of the repeated use of single insecticide classes without rotating active ingredients, many chemicals are no longer effective in controlling CPB. Ledprona is a sprayable double-stranded RNA biopesticide with a new mode of action that triggers the RNA interference pathway. Laboratory assays with second instar larvae fed Ledprona showed a dose–response where 25×10−6g/L of dsPSMB5 caused 90% mortality after 6days of initial exposure. We also showed that exposure to Ledprona for 6h caused larval mortality and decreased target messenger RNA (mRNA) expression. Decrease in PSMB5 protein levels was observed after 48h of larval exposure to Ledprona. Both PSMB5 mRNA and protein levels did not recover over time. Ledprona efficacy was demonstrated in a whole plant greenhouse trial and performed similarly to spinosad. Ledprona, currently pending registration at EPA, represents a new biopesticide class integrated pest management and insecticide resistance management programs directed against CPB.

Efficacy of the Applied Natural Enemies on the Survival of Colorado Potato Beetle Adults.

Simple SummaryColorado potato beetle (CPB) Leptinotarsa decemlineata is the potato plant’s most destructive pest. Recently, resistance to the traditional insecticides has appeared, thus new environmentally friendly control agents are highly needed. In our study, we searched for the most effective entomopathogenic agents that could be used to decrease the emergence of CPB adults from the soil. We selected two entomopathogenic nematodes (Steinernema carpocapsae and S. feltiae) and one strain of fungus (Beauveria bassiana). The suspension application was done on the leaves, plus by watering the pods and the field plots. All the treatments had an obvious effect, but in the field, only the fungal treatment showed a promising result. Further research is needed to develop the most effective application for field usage.Colorado potato beetle Leptinotarsa decemlineata is among the most destructive pests of potatoes quickly developing resistance to traditional insecticides. In the present study, we tested the effect of various species and strains of entomopathogenic nematodes on CPB adults, and subsequently, the most effective nematodes were applied alone and in combination with entomopathogenic fungus B. bassiana in pots with potato plants and in the field and their effect on the number of emerging adults was evaluated. In the experimental infections, both the nematode invasion and pathogenicity were variable, and, in several strains, the mortality reached 100%. In pot experiments, soil application of nematodes S. carpocapsae 1343 and S. feltiae Jakub and fungus significantly decreased numbers of emerging CPB adults, while, after the application on leaves, only fungal treatment was effective. The field application of fungus B. bassiana significantly decreased the number of emerging CPB adults in comparison to control sites by ca. 30% while the effect of nematodes and the nematodes–fungus combination was not significant. In conclusion, we demonstrate the necessity of thorough bioassays to select the most effective nematode strains. Entomopathogenic nematodes have the potential to effectively decrease the emergence of CPB adults, but further research is needed to improve the effectiveness in the field.

Insecticidal proteins and their potential use for Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata [Say, 1824]) control

Plants respond to pest attack, among other mechanisms, by producing specific proteins with insecticidal properties. Proteins with toxic effects on insects have also been discovered in many other organisms, especially fungi and bacteria. Due to their biological function, insecticidal proteins represent an important potential in the development of more environmentally friendly plant protection methods. Increasing knowledge about the mode of action of insecticidal proteins and the identification of genes encoding their synthesis enable the breeding of transgenic plants resistant to insect pests and the development of new bioinsecticidal agents. The Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) is one of the most important pests of potato, so the study of such control methods is crucial for the development of sustainable integrated pest management strategies of potato. This review highlights the properties of some groups of insecticidal proteins and their modes of action, and summarizes examples of studies of their use for the control of Colorado potato beetle.

Characterization of Superoxide Dismutase from the Potato Cyst Nematode, Globodera pallida.

Potato cyst nematodes (PCNs), such as Globodera pallida and Globodera rostochiensis, are some of the most agriculturally and economically important pests of potato. Upon nematode infection, a principal component of plant defense is the generation of the reactive oxygen species (ROSs). ROSs are highly toxic molecules that cause damage to pathogens and host alike. To infect the plant, nematodes protect themselves from ROSs by activating their own antioxidant processes and ROS scavenging enzymes. One of these enzymes is a superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC 1.15.1.1), which prevents cellular damage by catalyzing conversion of the superoxide radical (O2-·) to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and molecular oxygen (O2). We have isolated a putatively secreted isoform of a Cu-Zn SOD (SOD-3) from G. pallida and localized the expression of this gene in the posterior region of the nematode. Furthermore, we studied the expression of the SOD-3 gene during early parasitic stages of infection (24 to 72 h) in the susceptible potato cultivar Desiree, the resistant potato cultivar Innovator, and an immune host, Solanum sisymbriifolium. The SOD-3 gene was significantly upregulated, regardless of the host type; however, the expression pattern differed between the susceptible and the resistant or immune hosts. This finding suggests that SOD-3 gene is responding to infection in plant roots differently depending on whether the nematode is experiencing a compatible or an incompatible interaction.

Attack intensity of pest in the vegetative phase of Atlantic potato variety in three different altitudes

.Potato plants are grown well in the highlands and have the potential to grow at different altitudes. One of the challenges in growing potatoes is pest attack during plantations, especially during the vegetative phase. The study aims to determine the attack intensity of potato pests on Atlantic variety at three different altitudes. This study was conducted in the Sembalun District, East Lombok, in three different locations, namely Sajang Village (at ca. 900 m asl), SembalunBumbung Village (at ca.1000 m asl), and SembalunLawang Village (at ca.1200 m asl) from March to June 2021. The plantations were maintained according to the standard maintenance of potato plantation farmers in Sembalun, and data was collected on a two-week basis. The research method used was an experimental method based on a Randomized Block Design (RBD). The sampling of potato plants was done using systematic random sampling. The results showed that the highest attack intensity of pests in the vegetative phase was observed nine weeks after planting, where the plants were suitable for the foliar pest. Altogether, potato plantation in SembalunBumbung had the highest attack intensity than in SembalunLawang and Sajang village. Further research is needed to examine the resistance of several varieties of potato in different altitudes and different seasons to attack the intensity of pests.

Bio-Efficacy of Insecticides Against Major Insect Pests of Potato During Kharif Season in India

Bio-Efficacy of Insecticides Against Major Insect Pests of Potato During Kharif Season in India

Population structure and pattern of geographic differentiation of Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Turkey.

The Colorado potato beetle (CPB) is the most harmful pest of potato in potato cultivation regions globally. Although it is an economically important agricultural pest, the population structure and colonization route of this species in Turkey are uncertain. We used microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers to obtain information about the population source, structure and bio-invasion route of CPB populations in Turkey. The common single mtDNA haplotype in European CPB populations was obtained in all Turkish CPB populations based on mtDNA data analysis. However, microsatellites revealed a low level of genetic variation in CPB populations. The results of microsatellite analysis [factorial correspondence analysis (FCA), Bayesian analysis of genetic population structure (BAPS), unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) dendrogram, F-statistics and Nei's distances] indicated three groups for invasive CPB: Thrace-Marmara and Aegean; Black Sea, Central Anatolia and Mediterranean; Northeastern Anatolia. Region-specific alleles have been identified in regions, where commercial potato cultivation and insecticide use are intensive. The detection of a single fixed European haplotype in all Turkish populations has proved that CPB in Turkey originated from Europe as a result of a founder event occurred in European populations. Low genetic variation was due to the short time period since the spread of CPB from America to Europe. The highest number of private alleles were found in the top commercial potato cultivation region-Central Anatolia from where the CPB populations spread to other parts of Turkey. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

First report of Sweet potato virus G in sweet potato in Italy

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is the sixth most important food crop in terms of production globally. In Italy, sweet potato is mainly cultivated in Veneto province (northeast Italy), and to a lesser extent in Lazio and Apulia provinces, on a total area of about 400 hectares. Among the sweet potato pests, viruses are the second most important constraint next to sweet potato weevil (Barkessa, 2018). In 2020, tubers of six different genotypes, with uncertain geographical origins, were sent by a grower from Veneto province to IPSP-CNR, with the aim of ascertaining their phytosanitary status. Two tubers of each genotype were grown in an insect-proof greenhouse (26/22°C, day/night) under natural light conditions and transplanted in 25 cm diameter pots containing peat bog-moss as a substrate. After about one month, leaves of only one genotype (identified as DP/578) showed light diffuse chlorotic symptoms (Figures 1, 2). Sap extracts from both plants of each of the six genotypes were tested with ELISA using broad-spectrum potyvirus antibodies (Bioreba, Switzerland). Only the symptomatic genotype DP/578 tested positive to potyvirus antibodies. Total RNA was extracted from the leaves of the two plants of DP/578 and from a healthy plant, with the Plant RNA Kit (Omega Bio-Tek, USA), and subjected to RT-PCR using the universal Potyviridae forward primer (5'-GGBAAYAAYAGYGGDCARCC-3'; Gibbs & Mackenzie, 1997) and the reverse primer SPFMV-Rv (5'-TTGCACACCCCTCATTCCYAAG-3'; Parrella et al., 2006). An amplification product of approximately 1700 bp was produced only from samples with symptoms but not from the healthy control. Sequences obtained from the two symptomatic plants were identical (GenBank Accession No. MW456564) and showed highest identity (98.2%) with the CH2-32-1 isolate of Sweet potato virus G (SPVG) from China (MK778832). SPVG alone is not considered a real threat to sweet potato production since infected plants rarely display symptoms (Rännäli et al., 2008). Significant yield losses have been recorded only when SPVG co-infects sweet potato with other potyviruses such as Sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV) (Clark & Hoy, 2006). Previously, outbreaks of SPFMV were reported in sweet potato cultivation in central Italy (Parrella et al., 2006). In the current study, attempts to amplify other sweet potato closely related potyviruses were unsuccessful using RT-PCR developed by Li et al. (2012). Based on our observation and results (symptoms recorded and serological detection of SPVG), the yield effects of SPVG may have been overlooked in sweet potato. Considering the number of existing SPVG strains and of sweet potato landraces/varieties, further investigation would be desirable to understand the real incidence of SPVG in individual sweet potato crops and its effects on production.

Difficulties in Potato Pest Control: The Case of Pyrethroids on Colorado Potato Beetle

Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata, CPB) is considered one of the most persistent crop pests because it is highly adaptable and can rapidly develop insecticide resistance. Nowadays, this beetle is resistant to over 54 different insecticides. In the absence of competitive alternatives, the answer of farmers to the high degree of pest adaptability is to increase the number of pesticide treatments or apply chemicals with different modes of action. Such a strategy increases the risk of intoxication in non-target organisms and leads to environmental pollution, augmenting the carbon footprint. Furthermore, these strategies are also unsustainable and inefficient for pest management in the long-term. The time has thus come to reform existing agriculture practices, for which the implementation of an integrated pest management strategy would be a more feasible tool. Applying a sustainable pest management strategy is indispensable for a better understanding of the status and mechanisms of insecticide resistance. Effective pest management requires monitoring the resistance of pests and developing a well-programmed pesticide treatment to simultaneously reduce the insecticide selection pressure and environmental pollution. In this context, here we present a review on the difficulties of potato pest control using as a case study the resistance of CPB to pyrethroids.

Potato plant variety affects the performance and oviposition preference of Phthorimaea operculella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae).

Damage by the potato tuber moth Phthorimaea operculella is one of the major constraints to commercial production of potato in many areas of the world. To promote effective pest management practices for P. operculella based on host plant, larval and adult performance of P. operculella fed on Lishu 6, Hezuo 88, Yunshu 304, and Qingshu 9 potato varieties was compared by examining their survival rate, larval feeding, pupal weight, and oviposition preference. Compared with larvae fed on the other three potato plants, those fed on Lishu 6 exhibited the highest survival rate, with almost 61.67% developing to the adult stage. Females also preferred to lay their eggs on Lishu 6 over Hezuo 88, Yunshu 304 and Qingshu 9; and the weight of P. operculella pupa on Lishu 6 plant (0.0085 g) was significantly heavier than that of on others, especially on Qingshu 9 (0.0062 g). Moreover, first instar larvae fed on Lishu 6 showed host preference to Qingshu 9. This study demonstrated that Lishu 6 is susceptible to P. operculella, and Qingshu 9 is not relatively susceptible to P. operculella, which suggested that the P. operculella feeding responses to dominant potato varieties in China is different. This variation can be applied for the potato breeding and pest management practice. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Baseline Susceptibility of Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) to Commonly Used Insecticides in the Columbia Basin.

Colorado potato beetle (CPB), Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), is one of the most challenging pests of potato, Solanum tuberosum L., largely due to its propensity to develop insecticide resistance. Historically, L. decemlineata has rapidly evolved resistance to all major classes of synthetic insecticides, particularly in the eastern United States. However, in the U.S. Pacific Northwest, there have thus far been no confirmed reports of insecticide resistance despite anecdotal accounts of control failure. Hence, the objective of this study was to develop baseline data on the susceptibility of L. decemlineata in the Columbia Basin to abamectin, imidacloprid, and spinetoram, three insecticides commonly used to manage this insect. In 2018 and 2019, baseline susceptibility of four L. decemlineata populations, three from the Columbia Basin and one from Wisconsin (used as a resistant reference), was examined using topical LD50 bioassays. In general, L. decemlineata populations in the Columbia Basin exhibited relatively high sensitivity to imidacloprid, but variable sensitivity to abamectin and spinetoram among sites and years. Although small sample sizes hindered estimation of statistically significant LD50 values, results suggest that L. decemlineata in the Columbia Basin are beginning to develop levels of insensitivity to spinetoram, and possibly abamectin that are comparable to insecticide-resistant populations in Wisconsin. This preliminary examination of geographic variation in sensitivity to commonly used insecticides reinforces the value of rotating insecticide modes of action and suggests the need for continued monitoring for the development of insecticide resistance throughout the U.S. Pacific Northwest.

Association of Bactericera cockerelli (Hemiptera: Triozidae) With the Perennial Weed Physalis longifolia (Solanales: Solanaceae) in the Potato-Growing Regions of Western Idaho.

The potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc), is a major pest of potato (Solanales: Solanaceae) as a vector of 'Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum' (Lso). Bactericera cockerelli colonizes potato from noncrop host plants, yet we do not yet know which noncrop species are the primary sources of Lso-infected psyllids. The perennial weed, Physalis longifolia Nutt., is a high-quality host for B. cockerelli and Lso under laboratory conditions but has been overlooked in recent field studies as a source of Lso-infected psyllids. Our current study had four objectives: 1) determine whether P. longifolia is abundant in potato-growing regions of Washington and Idaho, 2) determine whether stands of P. longifolia harbor B. cockerelli and Lso, 3) identify the psyllid haplotypes occurring on P. longifolia, and 4) use molecular gut content analysis to infer which plant species the psyllids had previously fed upon prior to their capture from P. longifolia. Online herbaria and field searches revealed that P. longifolia is abundant in western Idaho and is present at low densities in the Columbia Basin of Washington. Over 200 psyllids were collected from P. longifolia stands in 2018 and 2019, confirming that B. cockerelli colonizes stands of this plant. Gut content analysis indicated that a proportion of B. cockerelli collected from P. longifolia had arrived there from potato. Confirmation that P. longifolia is abundant in certain potato-growing regions of the Pacific Northwest, and that B. cockerelli readily uses this plant, could improve models to predict the risk of future psyllid and Lso outbreaks.

Distribution of two European elaterids, Agriotes obscurus and A. lineatus in British Columbia: New records, and potential implications of their dispersal

• Two invasive click beetle pest species have established in southwestern British Columbia. • Surveys conducted in 2017–2019 reveal both species have now dispersed widely. • Crop damage, displacement of native species, and continued spread is expected. • Several native, non-pest species are attracted to the pheromone of these pests. Two European click beetle species, Agriotes obscurus L. (AO) and A. lineatus L. (AL) have become serious pests of agriculture in the Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island areas of British Columbia (BC), but prior to the start of this survey (2017) it was unknown if they had established elsewhere in the Province. Pitfall traps baited with sex pheromone of AO and AL were placed throughout BC in 2017–2019 and collected a total of 4,988 AO and 20,103 AL beetles in 150 trap pairs. Both species were found to be distributed throughout southern BC, including high numbers in Creston, Kelowna, Pemberton, and Salmon Arm. Traps placed in northern BC, northern Alberta, northern Idaho, or the Willamette valley in western Oregon did not collect AO or AL. Traps were also deployed for A. sputator L., a related European species that has become a serious pest of potato in eastern Canada, but this species was not collected. AO and AL traps placed in the Pemberton valley of BC also collected 474 A. ferrugineipennis (LeConte), and traps placed in the northern Okanagan valley collected 75 A. oregonensis Becker. Both are native Agriotes species not closely related to AO or AL; this is the first time A. oregonensis was collected in Canada. We discuss the potential implications of the spread of AO and AL to other agricultural areas in BC and beyond.

Nematode Genome Announcement: Draft Genome of Meloidogyne chitwoodi, an Economically Important Pest of Potato in the Pacific Northwest

Meloidogyne chitwoodi is one of the most devastating pests of potato in the U.S. Pacific Northwest (PNW). Nematode-infected tubers develop external as well as internal defects, making the potato tubers unmarketable, and resulting in economic losses. Draft genome assemblies of three M. chitwoodi genotypes—race 1, race 2 and race 1 pathotype Roza—were generated using Illumina and PacBio Sequel RS II sequencing. The final assemblies consist of 30, 39, and 38 polished contigs for race 1, race 2 and race 1 pathotype Roza, respectively, with average N50 of 2.37 Mb and average assembled genome size of approximately 47.41 Mb. On average, 10,508 genes were annotated for each genome. Benchmarking universal single-copy ortholog (BUSCO) analysis indicated that 69.80% of the BUSCOs were complete whereas 68.80, 0.93, and 12.67% were single copy, duplicated, and fragmented, respectively. These highly contiguous genomes will enrich resources to study potato–nematode interactions and enhance breeding efforts to develop nematode-resistant potato varieties for the PNW. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .