Defoliation and infestation of Cucurbita pepo genotypes by diabroticite beetles

• Published in: HortScience Vol. 31; no. 3; pp. 439 - 442
• Main Authors: Hoffmann, M.P. (Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.), Robinson, R.W, Kyle, M.M, Kirkwyland, J.J
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Alexandria, VA American Society for Horticultural Science 01.06.1996
• Subjects: ACALYMMA; ACALYMMA VITTATUM; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; BIOLOGICAL CONTROL; CHARACTERIZATION; CONTROL BIOLOGICO; CORRELATION; CUCURBITA PEPO; CUCURBITACINS; CULTIVARS; CULTIVOS TRAMPA; CULTURE PIEGE; DEFOLIACION; DEFOLIATION; DENSIDAD DE LA POBLACION; DENSITE DE POPULATION; DIABROTICA; DIABROTICA BARBERI; DIABROTICA UNDECIMPUNCTATA; DIABROTICA UNDECIMPUNCTATA HOWARDI; DIABROTICA VIRGIFERA VIRGIFERA; DISEASE RESISTANCE; FEUILLE; FITOSTEROLES; FRUITS; FRUTAS; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GENETIC PARAMETERS; GENETICA; GENETICS; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; GENETIQUE; GENOTIPOS; GENOTYPE; GENOTYPES; HOJAS; HOST PARASITE RELATIONS; HOST PREFERENCES; INCIDENCE; INFESTACION; INFESTATION; INSECTE NUISIBLE; INSECTOS DANINOS; LEAF AREA; LEAVES; LINES; LUTTE BIOLOGIQUE; NEW YORK; NUEVA YORK; PARAMETRE GENETIQUE; PARAMETROS GENETICOS; Pest animals; PEST INSECTS; PEST RESISTANCE; PHYTOSTEROL; PHYTOSTEROLS; PLANTULAS; PLANTULE; POPULATION DENSITY; RELACIONES HUESPED PARASITO; RELATION HOTE PARASITE; RESISTANCE AUX MALADIES; RESISTANCE AUX ORGANISMES NUISIBLES; RESISTENCIA A LA ENFERMEDAD; RESISTENCIA A LAS PLAGAS; SEEDLINGS; SUPERFICIE FOLIAR; SURFACE FOLIAIRE; TEMPORAL VARIATION; TRAP CROPS; VARIEDADES; VARIETAL REACTIONS; Varietal selection. Specialized plant breeding, plant breeding aims; VARIETE; VARIETIES; New York; United States; North America; America; Chrysomelidae; Coleoptera; Insecta; Cucurbita pepo; Field experiment; Trap plant; Diabrotica virgifera virgifera; Breeding line; Pest; Phytophagous; Defoliation; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Diabrotica barberi; Cucurbitaceae; Screening; Sensitivity resistance; Vegetable crop; Arthropoda; Genetic improvement; Pest resistance; Spermatophyta; Invertebrata; Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi; Infestation; Cultivar
• ISSN: 0018-5345; 2327-9834
• DOI: 10.21273/HORTSCI.31.3.439

Seventy-six Cucurbita pepo L. cultivars and breeding lines were evaluated under field conditions for infestation levels and defoliation (leaf area consumed by beetles) by adult diabroticite beetles in 1992 and 1994. Striped and spotted cucumber beetles, Acalymma vittatum (F.) and Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi Barber, respectively, were most common, but some western and northern corn rootworms, D. virgifera virgifera LeConte and D. barberi Smith and Lawrence, respectively, also were present. In general, pumpkin, delicata, acorn winter squash, scallop, and yellow straightneck summer squash types were the least infested and defoliated. Caserta/yellow, zucchini, caserta/zucchini, caserta, and precocious yellow straightneck types were the most infested and defoliated. The number of beetles per plant was correlated (r greater than or equal to 0.72) with leaf defoliation and proportion of plants infested, indicating that beetle infestation is a good predictor of damage. The cultivars and breeding lines that were the least infested and defoliated can be used in breeding programs to develop desirable genotypes with reduced beetle preference. Conversely, those genotypes that were highly preferred have potential as trap crops for these beetle pests