Reducing sweetpotato reinfection through vector management

Monday, November 11, 2024

11:42 AM – 11:54 AM MST

Location: Phoenix Convention Center, 128 AB, PCC

Presenting Author(s)

RM

Rachel E. Morrison (she/her/hers)

Graduate Research Associate
Mississippi State University, Mississippi

Co-Author(s)

LH

Lorin Harvey

Assistant Professor
Mississippi State University
Pontotoc, Mississippi
NK

Natraj Krishnan

Associate Professor, Graduate Coordinator
Mississippi State University
Starkville, Mississippi
SS

Sead Sabanadzovic

Professor
Mississippi State University
Starkville, Mississippi
Fred R. Musser (he/him/his)

Professor and Interim Head
Mississippi State University, Mississippi

Sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) are vegetatively propagated and are prone to the accumulation of pathogens, especially viruses. Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) vector potyviruses to sweet potatoes in a non-persistent manner, reducing yield and root quality. In this study, we examined different options for aphid management to reduce the spread of potyviruses: crop borders, crop oils, and insecticides. Immigrating aphids feed on the crop borders first, cleaning out their stylets of virion before moving to the target crop. Crop oils can kill vectors, prevent virion binding to stylet mouthparts, and alter probing behavior. Lastly, insecticides can be used to kill aphids but may are ineffective in altering feeding behavior. To compare these management strategies, a field of sweet potatoes was planted in Starkville, MS. Each plot was a total of 10 rows consisting of 4 treatment rows on either side of two middle rows. Two rows of infected plants bordered each side of the plot to serve as inoculum. Roots from the two middle target rows were harvested, and a Multiplex RT-PCR was utilized to test for the presence/absence of Sweet Potato Virus G, Sweet Potato Virus C, Sweet Potato Virus 2, and Sweet Potato Feathery Mottle Virus.