ISHS Acta Horticulturae 218: XII African Symposium on Horticultural Crops
CULTURAL MEANS OF CONTROLLING POTATO TUBER MOTH (PHTHORIMAEA OPERCULELLA ZELL) AND IMPROVEMENT OF POTATO YIELD AND QUALITY IN THE SUDAN |
| Author: | S. Siddig |
| Abstract:
Damage by potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea operculella Zell) steadily increased from optimum sowing (15 November) to the 5 and 25 December sowings. The corresponding yield of marketable tubers decreased respectively, as a result of tuber moth damage. Increasing the sowing depth of tubers from 1 to 3 reduced damage and increased yield. The application of nitrogen and one re-ridging during tuberization were not effective against the pest. A third trial also showed the positive effect of deeper planting but that delay in harvesting substantially increased infestation and reduced yield. Post-harvest trials indicated that infestation of harvested potatoes could take place if the tubers were left unprotected in the field for more than 2 days. However, spraying harvested tubers with neem leaf or seed water extracts and bagging them in jute sacks efficiently protected them from damage. | |
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