Screening for Aphid Incidence on Some Potato Germplasm in Plains of West Bengal

Abstract

A field trial was conducted to study the impact of various potato germplasm against aphids, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) and Aphis gossypii Glover (Aphididae: Hemiptera) during rabi season from November to March in 2012-2013 and 2013-2014, respectively at Adisaptagram Block Seed Farm, Hooghly, West Bengal. The population of aphids was started on potato crop in between third week of December and first week of January irrespective of various germplasms, except K. Chipsona-2, where its infestation was initiated during second and third week of January. Then, their population was gradually increased to reach its critical level (ETL) during first and second week of January in most of the potato germplasm, except in K. Anand, K. Chipsona-1, K. Chipsona-2 and Sailaja, where it was crossed in between fourth week of January and first week of February. The peak population of aphids was observed during third and fourth week of February in most of the potato germplasm. It was observed that K. Ashoka, K. Badshah, K. Chandramukhi, K. Jawahar, K. Jyoti and K. Pukhraj were highly susceptible to the pests, while K. Anand and K. Sutlez were moderately susceptible but K. Chipsona-1 , K. Chipsona-2 and K. Sailaja were less susceptible or tolerant to the pests. Maximum tuber yield (t/ha) of potato was recorded in K. Badshah (36.58 -43.92) while it was lowest in K. Chandramukhi (22.08 -22.12).