Abstract:

. Variation in whitefly numbers on sweetpotato and incidence of sweetpotato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV) and sweetpotato virus disease (SPVD) were studied. There were significant differences ( P < 0.05) in monthly whitefly numbers. Overall, whitefly populations increased with temperature and decreased with rainfall within a month. Peak whitefly populations occurred in the hot dry season, but whitefly numbers were generally greatest on crops 3- 4 months old. Incidence of SPVD increased with crop age. Planting date only affected incidence of SPCSV in the second season, and whitefly population was not closely related to SPCSV incidence.

Keywords: IPOMOEA; BATATAS; SWEETPOTATO; VIRUS; DISEASE; WHITEFLIES; BEMISIA; TABACI; GENN; SWEETPOTATO; CHLOROTIC; STUNT; VIRUS

Language: English

Document Type: Research article