I

INTEGRATED
MANAGEMENT OF
POTATO PESTS

By
Sanjeev Sharma
Meena Thakur
-V. K. Chandla
B. P. Singh
S. K. Chakrabarti

Released on the occasion of

Central Potato Research Institute Foundation Day
9 th August, 2012

~ 3IRJ 3f<FirnoI R~, ~mcn .-

Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla , ,
(Indian Council of Agricultural Research) • ._'
Technical Bulletin No. 96
Printed: August, 2012,200 Copies

Production: Dr. N.K. Pandey, Dr. Brajesh Singh & Sachin Kanwar
Photographs: Dr. Meena Thakur, V.K. Chandla and B. S. Latwal

Correct citation: Sharma Sanjeev, Thakur Meena, Chandla V. K., Singh B.P. and
Chakrabarti S. K., 2012. Integrated Management of Potato Pests
Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India, 52 pp.

Published by:
Dr. B.P. Singh
Director
Central Potato Research Institute
Shimla-171 001

MonthlYear of publication: August, 2012

E-mail: directorcpri@gmail.com
website: http://cpri.ernetin

Design & Printed at :

Azad Offset Printers (P) Ltd .,
144, Press Site, Industrial Area-1, Chandigarh
(0172)2652349,2651316
E-mail: aop144@gmail.com
 CONTENTS

S. Topic Page No.

PREFACE v

Integrated Pest Management 1

Insect Pests of Potato and Their Integrated Management 2

SAP-FEEDING INSECTS 5
Aphids 5
Whiteflies 11

Leafhoppers and Jassids 14

Mites 17

LEAF EATING INSECTS OR DEFOLIATORS 21

Lepidopterans 21
Beetles/ Weevils and their young ones 25
SOIL PESTS 29
Cutworms 29
White grubs 32
STORAGE PEST 38
NEMATODES 41
Annexure I 46
Annexure II 47
Annexure III 48

Annexure IV 50
 v

PREFACE
Indian agriculture must continuously evolve to remain ever responsive to manage the change
and to meet the growing and diversified needs of different stakeholders in the entire production
to consumption chain. Agricultural production in India increased dramatically during the last
four decade's, leading to an era of food self-sufficiency. This remarkable growth was achieved
through development and adoption of newer technologies in the form of high yielding crop
varieties, chemical fertilizers and pesticides, as well as expansion of cropped area. Further, the
global free market has opened the doors for better price but simultaneously it has also
increased the possibilities for introduction of new pests. Insect pests, diseases and weeds inflict
enormous losses to all crop plants including potato crop . Anecdotal evidences also indicate rise
in the losses, despite increasing use of chemical pesticides. At the same time, there is a rising
public concern about the potential adverse effects of chemical pesticides on the human health,
environment and biodiversity. These negative externalities, though, cannot be eliminated
altogether, their intensity can be minimized through development, dissemination and
promotion of alternative technologies such as bio-pesticides and bio-agents as well as good
agronomic practices rather than relying solely on chemical pesticides.

Significant progress has been made in research on individual management tools for
location specific pest problems in potato and has generated many technologies using flora and
fauna. A few have been standardized for commercial application, and are claimed to provide
better pest control and crop economics than the conventional chemical control, when used in
conjunction with other pest control measures. The strategy is often referred to as 'Integrated
Pest Management'. However, keeping in view the recent advancements with regard to newer
more eco-friendly pesticide molecules, genetically modified crop plants, biotechnological tools
and information technology, there is enough scope to refine this strategy for its effective
application. In the coming time a major shift in the pest scenario is expected due to changing
cropping system, and climate change. It is high time that such piecemeal efforts should be
consolidated to meet the challenges ahead in plant protection research . This document is the
outcome of compilation of different potato pest management techniques and suggests
measures for large-scale adoption of these technologies in an integrated way with need based
use of chemical pesticides.

July, 2012 B.P. Singh

Shimla Director, CPRI
 1

Integrated Pest Managerrtent

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) as is defined by Kogan (1998) is a "decision support system
for the selection and use of pest control tactics, singly or harmoniously coordinated into a
management s~r'ategy, based on cost/benefit analyses that take into account the interests of
and impact on 'producers, society and the environment". IPM has a prominent place on the
policy agenda. Due' to continuing concerns regarding unsustainable trends in pest
management, promoting the adoption of IPM has been a priority in developed and developing
countries. Requirements of the food industry regarding pesticide residues have become a
major force that encourage adoption of IPM practices, and the rising public demand for food
safety and quality is creating niche and market nobreak opportunities for certified products,
such as organic foods. The history of IPM, however, can be traced back to the late 1800s when
ecology was identified as the foundation for scientific plant protection. The priorities in IPM
shifted from calendar-based use of insecticides to need base, and thereafter, reduce use of
insecticides with safety concerns to environment and human health. IPM emphasizes correct
decisions based on available information on pest management and invloves a series of pest
management evaluations, decisions, and controls. In practicing IPM, growers who are aware of
the potential for pest infestation follow a three-tiered approach. The three steps include:

(1) Prevention: As a first line of pest control, IPM programs work to manage the crop, to prevent
pests from becoming a threat. In an agricultural crop, this may mean using cultural methods,
such as crop rotation, selecting pest-resistant varieties, and planting pest-free material. These
control methods can be very effective and cost-efficient and present little or no risk to people or
the environment.

(2) Observation: Before taking any pest control action, IPM first sets an action threshold, a
point at which pest populations or environmental conditions indicate that pest control action
must be taken. Sighting a single pest does not always mean control is needed. The level at
which pests will become an economic threat is critical to guide future pest control decisions.

Monitoring and identification of pests is also important as not all insects, weeds, and other living
organisms require control. Many organisms are innocuous, and some are even beneficial. IPM
programs work to monitor for pests and identify them accurately, so that appropriate control
decisions can be made in conjunction with action thresholds. This monitoring and identification
removes the possibility that pesticides will be used when they are not really needed or that the
wrong kind of pesticide will be used.

(3) Intervention: Once monitoring, identification, and action thresholds indicate that pest
control is required, and preventive methods are no longer effective or available, IPM programs
then evaluate the proper control method both for effectiveness and risk. Effective, less risky
pest controls are chosen first, including highly targeted chemicals, such as pheromones to
disrupt pest mating, or mechanical control, such as trapping or weeding. If further monitoring,
identifications, and action thresholds indicate that less risky controls are not working, then
additional pest control methods would be employed, such as targeted spraying of pesticides.
Broadcast spraying of non-specific pesticides is a last resort.
 2

Integrated Pest Management: Basic Components

Prevention - Observation - Intervention

Prevention : Indirect methods Observation : Decision tools

(Reduce initial severity) (when/what)

Crop rotation Crop monitoring

Crop breeding Active period
IPM
Crop production Economic damage
Fertilization Climatic condition
Irrigation
Trap crops
r
Cultural & mechanical control
NE activity
Community management
Intercropping Pheromones: Ml/MD
Biological control
Chemical control
• Safety
• Monitoring
• Ell

Intervention: Direct measures (Reduce the damage by pests}

Major obstacles
Although, IPM has been accepted as the most attractive option for protection of crops from the
ravages of pests, implementation at the farmers level has been limited. Pesticides continue to
dominate and their injudicious use represents the greatest threat to IPM. For an effective
implementation strategy, it is necessary to identify the obstacles to its dissemination, some of
which are:

+:. Small farm size and fragmented land holdings in India.

+:. Low awareness and innovativeness of extension personnel and target groups

.:. InaQequate interaction between research and extension agencies

.:. Problem of timely and adequate supply of quality inputs, including bio-control agents and
bio-pesticides

.:. Complexity of IPM vs simplicity of chemical pesticides

.:. The dominant influence of pesticide industry

.:. Non-availability of location-specific IPM modules for many crops

 3

Essentials for implementation

.:. Availability of location-specific IPM modules, which are ecologically sound, economically
viable and socially acceptable

.:. High level of target group participation through co-operative farming or contract farming
.:. Area-wide dissemination strategy

.:. Removal of obstacles in dissemination of IPM

.:. Measuring, evaluating and publicizing the impacts of IPM.

Conservation of natural enemies of pests and their augmentation is of prime importance.

Besides, the intrinsic property of renewability, reversibility and resilience of botanicals and
biopesticides make them most dependable tools for sustainable IPM. Hence, to maintain
ecological balance and to manage the pests, the use of bio-agents and bio-
pesticides/botanicals must receive priority attention.

Advantages of IPM:
~ It provides sustainable control of the pest and also adds to sustainable crop productivity.

);> It is economically viable and is affordable by marginal farmers.

~ It is environmentally safe.

~ Less health hazards.

~ Social and political stability

);> Quality produce with minimum pesticide residues and hence will enhance the export of
agricultural commodities
4

Insect Pests of Potato and Their Integrated Management

Potato is an important cash crop in India which is grown in an area of about 1.83 million
hectares. With an annual production of 37.3 million tones, India ranked second in world potato
production during 2010-2011. Potato is supposed to be the only food crop that fulfills almost all
the valuable criteria for a good food and offers a potential for increasing food production and
income for the country. It is hoped that by the year 2020, the annual production of potato in the
country would be 49 million ton, the area will be doubled and average yield will increase to 24.5
tonI ha. This could be achieved by use of input- efficient high yielding cultivars, appropriate
agro-techniques and plant protection measures and ensuring availability of quality seed. Insect
pest menace is the major factor that destabilizes potato crop productivity. The greatest diversity
of insect pests attacking potato is found in India. Insect pests damage the potato plant by
feeding on leaves thus reducing photosynthesis efficiency, by attacking the stems thus
weakening the plant and inhibiting growth of potato tubers, and by feeding on the tubers.

Accordingly potato pests are grouped into:

1. Sap feeders or sucking pests

2. Foliage feeders or defoliators
3. Soil pests
4. Storage pest and
5. Nematode pests

Potato pests are generally managed conventionally by the application of pestiCides which have
adverse effects on the agricultural ecosystems, therefore, at present it is a thrust area to search
and evaluate management methods which are safe, organic and eco-friendly, therefore, in this
bulletin, an attempt has been made to develop integrated pest management tactics against
each insect pest through eco-friendly methods with the least and need based use of
insecticides.
 5

1) SAP-FEEDING INSECTS

Some insects damage potato by sucking the cell sap from leaves or stems. The aphids,
whiteflies and leafhoppers, all have beak-like mouthparts that are used to suck sap from plants.
Some of thes,e insects also produce toxic saliva, which they inject into plants. The best known
example of p'lant injury caused by saliva injection is a condition called hopper burn caused by
the potato leafhopper on Irish potatoes. Many of these insects also transmit plant diseases. The
green peach aphid Myzus persicae, for example, is known to transmit potato leaf-roll virus,
PVY, PYS, PYA and PVM, while the whiteflies act as vectors mainly for Gemini viruses
(PALeY).

a) Aphids (Homoptera: Aphididae)

Species complex

1. Green peach aphid - Myzus persicae (Sulzer): Light to dark green

2. Cotton aphid - Aphis gossypii Glover: Pale yellow to brown, Grey black, or light to dark
green

3. Bean aphid - Aphis (abae Theobald: Black to olive green

4. Potato aphids - Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas), Rhopalosiphum rufiabdominalis

(Fitch) - and Rhopalosiphoninus latysiphon Davidson: Pink to green fa

Aphis gossypii, source : http://

Myzus persicae ~aphidweb, comIAphids%
Aphis fabae, source: http://
200f% 20Karnatakal www.agroatlas.
Aphisgossypii,htm ru/pestS/Aphis_fabae_en htm

Potato aphids, sources: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/factsl06-0B1 ,him;

http://www.ent.uga.edu/veg/so/anaceouslaphids.pdf
 6

Distribution: All over India .

Host Range: Potato, cotton, cabbage, cauliflower, mustard and other solanaceous and
cruciferous crops.

Nature of damage and symptoms:

.:. Suck cell sap from tender leaves/shoots .

•:. Stunted growth and poor tuber formation .

•:. Under severe infestation the entire plant may dry up. Aphids infested potato plant

.:. Excrete honeydew which attracts sooty mould and interferes with photosynthesis .

•:. Prolonged feeding of M. persicae transmits potato leaf roll virus (PLRV) and leaf roll virus
(LRV).

Typical potato leaf roll symptoms due to PLRV

Identification:
.:. Aphids are small (1 ~ 3 mm), soft-bodied insects that vary in color (green , pink, yellow,
grey, or black) .

•:. Two cornicles (siphunculus) or "exhaust pipes" extend from the hind end of most aphids
(Fig 1) .

•:. Most commonly seen in spring and autumn, aphids can be winged or wingless and are
usually Slow-moving .

•:. Nymphs: 1-1.Smm long, resembles adults but is smaller and always wingless .

•:. Adults: About 2mm in length and ash gray in colour.

 7

DORSAL VENTRAL

Siphuncu)us

Figure 1: Identifying characters of aphids

Source: http://www.aphidweb.com/lntroduction.htm

Life cycle: Among the aphid species infesting potato crop, M. persicae is the most studied and
damaging as it is a potential vector of viruses .

•:. It starts appearing on potato crop in the North- western plains of India from the second
week of November and in the eastern plains in early December, reaching the critical level
(20 aphids per 100 compound leaves) by the end of December in the former and during 1s l
to 2 nd week of January in the later area (Fig 2) .

•:. In the North- western higher hills and in North-eastern hills, the critical level generally
reaches by the end of July (Fig 3) .

•:. In the plateau region of Maharashtra, aphid infestation remains almost negligible in Kharif
crop while on Rabi crop, it appears in the second week of November and critical level
reaches by the third week of December.

•:. Reproduces through parthenogenetic vivipary however, during severe winter, sexual
reproduction also occurs (Fig 4) .

•:. Over-crowding coupled with high temperature and low humidity results in appearance of
alates for migration .

•:. There are 4 nymphal instars .

•:. The nymphs mature in 10-15 days .

•:. Asingle female can produce 40-45 young ones .

•:. Total life cycle is completed in 10-45 days.

8

.:. Most congenial conditions for aphid development and reproduction are 19-24°C
temperature with an average relative humidity of6?-85% .

•:. Many generations in a year (multi-voltine). .

[-Jalandar - Modipuram ---r:r- Patna - - Kalyani (West Bengal)1

1400
1/1
Q)
> 1200
cu
~
0 1000

-
0
"'1"/1"
:2
.J:.
800
C. 600
....0cu
<) 400
z
~ 200
0
Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May
Months of the year

Figure 2: Population fluctuation of aphids in plains.

I-Shillong -Kufri --Fagu --Shimla --Ootacamundl

100
1/1 90
cu
>
III 80
..!!!
0
0
70
"'CI)..."" 60
C.
1/1 50
"C
:2 40
c.
III
....0 ,30
c)
r:::: 20
~ 10
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Months of the year

Figure 3: Population fluctuation of aphids in Hills.

 9
Vivparous female~founder
female producing female

(3'/
Vivparous parthenogenic females

-
--

ma.lt? Ovjparous female

Vivparous female
producing sexual
forms

Figure 4: Life cycle of aphids.

G
Management:
1. Monitoring of aphids using yellow sticky traps and aphid count on 100 compound leaves.

2. Growing potato crop by adopting the seed plot technique with the following precautions,
Le. planting of clean (virus free) potato seed procured from certified/reliable sources
during aphid free/low aphid periods and adjusting planting dates as follows:

» th
15 Oct. : North-Western Plains (Fig 5).

» th
25 Oct. : Central Plains.

» th
5 Nov. : North-Eastern Plains.

3. Maintaining an isolation of 50 m for seed crop.

4. Timely rouging of virus infected plants well before they touch each other.

5. Haulm (foliage) cutting of crop after desired maturity of crop but before the aphids cross
the critical level of 20 aphids/1 00 compound leaves.

6. Regular cutting of foliage re-growth

so that the aphids could not build up
on them.

7. Conservation of natural enemies

such as predators like coccinellids
(Coccinel/a spp.), syrphids (Scaeva
pyrastri, Eupodes frequens,
Episyrphis balteatus, Metasyrphus Coccinellid spp. feeding Parasitized aphids
on aphids
10

confrator) and chrysopids (Chrysoperla carnea); and parasitoids like Aphidius spp.

8. Application of Pongamia glabra, Ageratum conyzoides, Vitex negunda, and Acarus

calamus@ 2.0% for organic potato production.

9. Sprayoffine pulverized mica powder@0.2% (2ml/lit)to repel the alates.

10. Foliar application with dimethoate 30EC @1ml/lit of water or Imidacloprid 17.8EC @
2ml/10 lit of water at a population level of 2 aphidsl 100 leaves. Repeat foliar spraying
fortnightly if population exceeds. Spraying should be stopped at least 7 days before
harvest.

High Aphid Period

SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR

Figure 5: Aphid population in relation to potato crop in NW plains.

 11

b) Whiteflies (Homoptera: A~eyrodidae)

Species complex
1. Silver leaf /cotton whitefly: Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius)

2. Greenhouse whitefly: Trialeurodes vaporariorum (West.)

,,

Bemisia tabaci, source: http://www.Scott Trialeurodes vaporariorum

Bauer, USDA Agricultural Research
Service, Bugwood.org
Distribution: Cotton whitefly is distributed throughout the northern and western regions of the
Indian sub- continent, whereas, green house whitefly is cosmopolitan.

Host range: Potato, tomato, chilli, cotton, capsicum, okra, melon, egg plant, crucifers,
cucurbits, tobacco and some weeds.

Nature of damage and symptoms:

+:+ Nymphs and adults suck the cell sap.

+:. Infected plants exhibit one or combination of the symptoms like vein yellowing, inter-vein
yellowing, yellow blotching of leaves, leaf yellowing,
yellow mosaic of leaves, leaf curling, vein thickening , leaf
cupping, plant stunting .

•:. Lower the vitality of the plant.

.:. They also excrete honey dew on which sooty mould grows
which interferes with the photosynthesis of the plants .

•:. Affected plants give a Sickly black appearance .

•:. B. tabaci also transmits a number of viruses including

Gemini viruses (PALCV).

Identification : Sooty mould on honey dew

Adults are 0.8-1.2 mm long with two pairs of broadly rounded wings that are coated with
white powdery wax.
12

.:. The wings of B. tabaci are held in a roof-like position (about a 45-degree angle) over their
bodies when at rest and hence appear more slender, whereas in case of green house
whiteflies the wings are held nearly parallel/flat over their backs
.:. The eggs are elongated, vary in colour from a pale
yellowish green to brown, smooth elongated and
attached to the leaf surface by a short pedicel. They turn
black before hatching .
•:. Nymphs on emergence look elliptical.
.:. They are sluggish creatures, clustered together on the
underside of the leaves .
•:. The immature do not look like the adults, and do not have
wings or antennae. They are oval, thin, flat and often
semitransparent.
.:. Whitefly pupae can be recognized by the long waxy Whitefly nymphs
filaments attached to their bodies.

Life cycle:
.:. The insect breeds throughout the year. Glasshouse whitefly population growth can occur
between 8°C and 35°C with the optimum temperatures for development in the range 28-
32°C and 62 to 92% relative humidity.
•:. Eggs are laid singly (150-300 eggs perfemale during her lifetime) on the under- side of the
leaves, incubation period is 3-5 days.
adult
(males and femaleS)

puparia • side view

(pupa in larval skin) /
./
•
~
o egg

~MJk
~ \
r

instar 4

instar 3

Figure 6: Life cycle of white flies

Source: http://www.nzacfactsheets.landcareresearch.co.nz
 13

.:. All nymphal stages are · sedentary (except first stage, crawlers) and found on the
underside of leaves (Fig 6) .

•:. Nymphs grow through four stages, the fourth one is called as "puparium" (non-feeding
stationary stage) .

•:. ' Become pupae in 9-14 days, pupal period is 2-8 days .

•:. Total life cycle is completed in 14-122 days .

•:. There are 11- 15 generations per year.

Management of wh itefl ies:

.:. Removal of weed hosts for clean cultivation .

•:. Avoid excess irrigation and fertilization

.:. Remove and destroy heavily infested plants

.:. Regular monitoring by using yellow sticky traps .

•:. In case of seed tubers, seed treatment with Imidacioprid @ 2.5-3 ml/kg of seed provides
protection for 25-30 days .

•:. Conservation of natural enemies viz. parasitoids like big-eyed bug (Geocoris sp.), minute
pirate bug (Orius sp.), Eretmocerus massi and Encarsia sp. and predator, Chysoperla
carnea.

Geocoris sp., source: http://www.Jack Orius sp., source: Source:

Dykinga. USDA Agricultural Research http://www.beneficialbugs.org
Service

.:. Need based spraying of crop with Methyl-demeton 25EC @ 1.2 mlilit of water,
Imidacloprid 17.BEC @ 2ml/10 lit of water when white fly population reaches a threshold
level of 2-3 adults per plant.
 14

c) Leafhoppers and Jassids (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae)

Species complex
1. Leafhopper- Alebroides nigroscutulatus Dist. and Seriana equata Singh

2. Potato Leafhopper - Empoasca fabae Harris

3. Potato jassid - Amrasca devastans Dist.

4. Cotton jassid - Amrasca beguttula beguttula Isida

, .

.
'_
.

Cotton jassid Potato jassid Potato Leafhopper

Distribution: Widely distributed over all the potato growing regions in India.

Host Range: Potato, tomato, other solanaceous plants, beans, celery, alfalfa and malvaceous
crops.

Nature of damage and symptoms:

.:. Nymphs and adults suck the cell sap from ventral
surface of leaves .

•:. Prolonged feeding causes "Hopper Burn". Normally the

older leaves below the growing tips burn first.

.:. Lesions spread backward and inward from margins,

eventually destroying entire leaflet.

.:. Inject toxin with saliva, induces cell swelling, crushing

phloem, disrupting movement of photosynthates in
plants .

•:. Feeding results in increase in plant respiration,

depleting plant reserves. Leafhopper damage (Hopper Burn)

. •:. More damage during early tuber bulking.

 15

.:. The species like A/ebroides nigroscutulatus and Seriana equata damage the crop as
vectors of phytoplasmal diseases, viz. Purple Top Roll (PTR), marginal f1avescence (MF)
and potato yellow dwarf virus (PYDV).

Identification
,
.:. The eggs (about 1mm long) are pear shaped elongated
and yellowish white in colour.

•:. Nymphs are whitish pale green similar to adults but are
smaller in the size and are wingless .

•:. Adults of both jassids and leafhoppers are wedge shaped,

2-3 mm long, pale green to brown in colour.

life cycle: Nymph, source:http://www.

vegedge.umn.edu
.:. Eggs are laid in the stems of susceptible plants .

•:. Each female lays 2-3 eggs per day and continues to oviposit for at least a month and up to
50 days, which hatches in 6-9 days (Fig 7).

~
eggs hatch
6-9 days
adult •
egg mass \

t 1st

~
4th}ff
5 nymphal stages
16-18 days /2nd

"""- f-----f
3rd

Figure 7: Life cycle of leafhoppers and Jassids

source: http://www.knowledgebank.irri.org
 18

.:. Protonymphs possess four pairs of legs and is slightly

green/ yellow in colour.

•:. The male deutonymph is smaller than the female .

•:. Adults are bigger than deutonymphs with shining yellow

to red coloured oval bodies, with a pair of chelicerae,
pedipalps and eight legs on the cephalothorax region of
the body.

Nymph

Chelicerae

Pedipalps

Legs Cephalothorax + abdomen

Figure 8: External morphology of adult mite

Life cycle:
.:. Eggs are laid singly on the underside of leaves often near the veins and depressions.
Eggs hatch in about 2-4 days (Fig 9) .

•:. Larva becomes protonymphs in about 2 days. Protonymph after under gOing a quiescent
stage develop~ into deutonymph. At this stage' sexes are determined .

•:. Deutonymph stage lasts for 1-3 days and thereafter transform itself into quiescent pupal
stage which stuck to the underside of leaves . The pupal stage lasts for about 2 days .

•:. Male longevity is 9-13 days and females live for 14-20 days.
 19

Figure 9: Life cycle of mites

.:. Under dry and hot conditions the multiplication of these mites is very high and the
infestation is also severe .

•:. The mite generally appears in the 3rd week of October on potato crops planted at! around
15th September in western Gangetic plains and are hyperactive during November and
early December. However, causes little damage on main crop (planted after 15th
October) and spring crop (planted during the last week of December). In peninsular India,
mite generally appears in early August on Kharif crop and is active during August-
September. In Maharashtra and Karnataka its attack on Rabi potato crop is generally
seen towards crop maturity i.e. during February-March.

Management:
.:. Destruction of severely affected plant parts mechanically during initial stage of infestation
reduces mite population .

•:. Suitable crop rotations with non-host crops like wheat in pest prone areas and providing
proper isolation to potato crop from susceptible hosts like chillies and brinjal.

.:. Delayed planting undertaken in last week of September for early crop and during middle
of October for the main crop reduces the incidence and impact of the pest in Indo-
Gangetic plains .

•:. Conservation of natural enemies such as Phytoseiid mites, Neioseiulus longispinosus,

efficient predatory mites and anthocorid bug, Orius sp. that regulates the pest under field
conditions
20

.:. Try to avoid dry conditions and spray frequently with plain water at least twice a week with
sprinkler.

Neioseiulus longispinosus Phytoseiid mite, Source: IIVR, Varanasi

.:. Spray with Dicofol18.5EC @ 2 ml or quinalphos 25EC @ 2mlliit of water at a population

level of 5~ 10 mites/plant.

.:. Application of Mancozeb (80WP) or micronized wettable sulphur (80WP) @ 2kg/ha

respectively. is also effective. If the incidence of mite persists then repeat the spray
application at 7-10 days. .
 21

1) lEAF EATING INSECTS OR DeFOLIATORS

A number of defoliating insects attack potato at various stages of growth. It includes larvae or
caterpillars of lepidopterans and beetles or weevils (coleopterans) and their young ones
(grubs).

a) lepidopterans
1. Cabbage semi-looper (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Species complex
i) Trichoplusia ni F.

ii) T orichalcea F.
Trichoplusia orichalcea
Distribution: North-Western India
Host range: Potato, cabbage, cauliflower and other winter
vegetables

Nature of damage and symptoms:

Larvae cause the damage by biting round holes into the

leaves.

Identification:
Trichoplusia ni
.:. Moths lay greenish-white eggs on the upper surface of
leaves.

+:+ Larvae: plump and pale green with four thin, white lines
along the back and a wide, pale line on each side of the
body and have three pairs of prologs .

•:. The larvae move in a measuring or looping motion, thus

the insect's name. When disturbed, loopers rear
upwards. Larva of H. armigera
Larvae of semi-Iopper
.:. Adults: light brown with a golden patch on each fore-
wing and measures about 42 mm across the wings.

2. Tobacco caterpillar: Spodoptera litura Hubner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Distribution: Throughout the tropical and subtropical parts of the world.

Host plants: Polyphagous

Nature of damage and symptoms:

 22

.:. Damage is caused by the caterpillars

.:. Feed on leaves and fresh growth .

•:. They are active at night and more serious on tobacco .

•:. Young caterpillars bite holes on leaves

.:. Older larvae defoliate entire foliage

Identification:
.:. Larvae: About 35-40 mm in length when fullfed . They are velvety black with yellowish
green dorsal strips and lateral white bands.

Larvae Pupae Adult

.:. Adults: The moths are about 22 mm in length and about 40 mm across the wings. The
forewings have beautiful golden and grayish brown pattern .

3. Gram pod borer: Helicoverpa armigera Hubner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Distribution: Cosmopolitan in distribution

Host range: Polyphagous, infests over 100 host plants

including potato, chickpea, cotton , caster, tomato, cowpea, millets,
linseed, tobacco, safflower, pigeon pea , okra , carnation etc.

Nature of damage and symptoms:

.:. Damage is caused by the larva

.:. Feed on the foliage , flowers, buds and fruits.

Helicoverpa armigera
.:. Small green fruits are preferred

. •:. Single larva can destroy many fruits

.:. The damage is more pronounced during March to June

 23

Identification:
.:. Eggs are yellowish white, ribbed, dome shaped and 0.4-
0.5 mm in diameter.

•:. Newly emerged larvae are yellowish white whereas older

can be of many colours depending upon the food they
consume. Full grown caterpillars are 40-48 mm long with
whitish and dark gray longitudinal stripes.
Eggs of H. armigera
.:. Adults are Medium sized stoughtly built moths .

•:. Forewing ;s light yellow in males and brown in females .

•:. On the apical margin offorewings, wavy lines in the form of

light black band are visible and a black spot appears on the
upper side of the wing .

•:. On the tip of the abdomen there is a tuft of hairs in case of

females.
Young larva of H. armigera

Other Lepidopteran pests of minor importance for potato crop:

4. Bihar hairy caterpillar: Spilosoma ob/iqua Walker (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

5. Armyworms: Mythimna separata Walker (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

6. Brinjal Shoot and Fruit borer: Leucinodes orbonalis Guen. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Life cycle:
.:. Each female may lay 300 eggs in clusters covered with brown hair.

•:. Eggs hatch in 3-5 days .

•:. Larvae become full fed in 15-30 days

.:. Pupal period is 7-15 days .

•:. Adult longevity is 7-10 days Larvae of S. fitura

.:. Total life cycle is completed in 32-60 days .

•:. 8 overlapping generations in a year.

•:. Most congenial temperature range for lepidopteran development is 18-30' C.

 24

Figure 10: Life cycle of lepidopterans

Management of caterpillars:
.:. Clean cultivation to expose the larvae to natural enemies, deep summer ploughing to
expose the pupae to the sunlight and natural enemies .

•:. Hand picking and destruction of egg masses and early gregarious instars. African
marigold as trap crop for H. armigera .

•:. Installation of pheromone traps (5 traps/ha) for monitoring and mass trapping of adult
moths .

•:. Spray of Heficoverpa nuclear polyhedrosis virus (HaNPV) or Spodoptera nuclear

polyhedrosis virus SINPV @ 250 larval equivalentlha at weekly intervals against
Helicoverpa and Spodoptera .

•:. Applic~tion of Bt formulation @ 3gmllitre of water.

•:. Release of egg parasitoid, Trichogramma brasmensis @ 250000 Iha during high adult
activity.

•:. Spray ofneem seed kernel extract (NSKE)@4.0 % at early growth stage of the crop .

. •:. Need based spray of Cypermethrin 25EC @ 0.30ml or Deltamethrin 28EC @ 0.1 mi/lit of
water when 2 larvae are seen per 10 pla~ts.
 25

b) Beetles/Weevils and theiryoung ones

1. Hadda beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) /

Species complex
i) Epilachna ocel/ata Redtenbacher

ii) E. vigintioctopuntata (Fabricius)

E. vigintioctopuntata E. ocel/ata
Source: http://www.coccinel/idae.cllpaginas Source: http://www.ladybird-survey.
WebArglPaginas/ Epilachninae_ Arg_1.php pwp.blueyonder. co. uk

Distribution: Throughout India.

Host Range: Potato, tomato, brinjal, datura, many other Solanum sp. and occasionally on
cucurbits.

Nature of damage and symptoms:

.:. E. ocel/ata causes severe damage to the potato crop in the higher hilly regions of India,
whereas, E. vigintioctopunctata is restricted to plains and mid-hills .

•:. Both the adults and grubs voraciously feed on the leaves by scrapping the chlorophyll
resulting in skeletonizing offoliage .

•:. The leaves presenta lace-like appearance; turn brown, dries up and fall off.

•:. In the years of severe attack, the crop gets completely

defoliated.

Identification:
.:. Eggs are elongate yellow coloured .

•:. The grubs are about 6 mm, yellow, with six rows branched
spines.
Hadda beetle eggs
.:. Beetles measure about 8 to 9 mm in length and 5 to 6mm in breadth.
26

.:. E. vigintioctopunctata beetles are deep copper coloured having 14 black spots on each
elytron, whereas E. oeellafa have 6 spots on each elytron.

Life cycle:
.:. The incubation period is 2- 3days .
•:. Larval period is 14-18 days .
•:. Pre-pupal period is 1-2 days .
•:. Pupal period 4-5 days .
•:. Pre-oviposition period is 5-6 days .
•:. Oviposition period is about 40-50 days. Grub of hadda beetle
.:. Post-oviposition period is 10 days .
•:. Adult longevity is 60-65 days (male) and 65-70 days (female) .
•:. Several generations from March to October.

Eggs

Adult Grub

Pupa

Figure 11: Life cycle of hadda beetles

 27

2. Flea beetles: Psyllodes spp. (Coleoptera,: Chrysomelidae

Distribution: Cosmopolitan.

Host Range: Potatoes, tomatoes, turnip and eggplant.

Nature of damage and symptoms:

.:. Grubs commonly feed on roots, often riddling them with tunnels Psyl/odes spp.
or eating off rootlets .

•:. Round holes called "shot holes" chewed in leaves are the most
obvious damage caused by adult flea beetles .

•:. On small plants, this "buckshot" damage can result in plant

death .

•:. On larger plants these feeding sites provide a good entrance for
pathogens causing blights and wilts. Flea beetles in potato

Identification:
.:. Flea beetles are so named because of their enlarged hind legs
with very stout femora with which they jump like fleas i.e. have
jumping ability.

•:. The grubs are dirty white or Grey with pale white head, 5 mm in
length . Flea beetles grub

•:. The adults vary in colour from shiny black to black and are 1/16 to 1/18 inch long, some
have brown legs and antennae.

Life cycle:
.:. Eggs (50- 80 creamy white eggs per female) are laid in the soil at the base of plants (Fig
12) .

•:. From the eggs cylindrical, brown-headed, white larvae (grub) hatch in 5-10 days that are
about 1/5 inch long when full grown, molts thrice .

•:. The pupal stage (8-14 days) is spent in the soil in an earthen cell 0.5 mm long .

•:. These insect over-winters as adults in trash around field borders and in ditch banks. 7-8
generations per year.
 28

fall Winter Spring

Summer generation Overwintering adults
of adults July. Od. emerge

Summer

Figure 12: Life cycle of flea beetles

Source: http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/plantsciipests/e1234w.htm
Other coleopterans of minor importance:

3. Blister beetles: Epicauta hirticornis Hagg. (Coleoptera: Meloidae)

4. Weevil: Myllocerus subfasciatus Guerin. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Epicauta hirticornis Myllocerus subfasciatus

Source: http://www.whatsthatbug.com Source:http://www.agritech.tnau.ac.in

Management of beetles:
.:. Deep summer ploughing to kill the over wintering population .

•:. Handpicking of grub infested leaves and destruction of various stages of the pest.

.:. Conservation of natural enemies viz. a eulophid egg parasitoid, Tetrastichus ovu/orum
and a chalcid parasitoid, Ugna menoni Kerrich and Pediobius foveo/atus. The
parasitisation of H. vigintioctopunctata in the field by P. foveo/atus Crawford has been
reported to be as high as 77 %.

•:. When serious, the pests can be controlled by spraying Dichlorvos 78EC @ 1ml or carbaryl
50WP @2 gml lit otwater.
 29

3) SOIL PESTS
1. Cut worms (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Species complex
i) Agrotis segetum Schiff (black cut worm)

ii) A ipsilon(Hfn)(greasycutworm)
A. segetum
iii) A. flammatra Schiff

iv) A. interacta Wlk.

v) A. spinnifera (Hb.)

Distribution: Cosmopolitan, present throughout world. In India cut

worms are more serious in northern region than in south.

Host range: Polyphagous

Nature of damage and symptoms:

A. ipsilon
.:. Caterpillars are damaging .
__ I!
•:. Cut the seedling at ground level, drag the seedling into the
.. . ,- .
soil. Some time replanting is required . ," .• '9'.,,Y... " <4 '
•:. Cut worms usually do not eat plants beyond cutting ,,,£, -f
.".." 'f
\ ,)1 , '
through them, although some species climb stalks and
feed on the upper parts of plants, which causes less
, r ~ . _.; ; . . : . .:'~
., ,
.~,
:--\
• I

damage . .... '" i .~;

JQ

•:. Aftertuberization, they feed on tubers by making deep and

Typical cutworm damage
irregular galleries in them, thus reducing the market value
of infested tubers .

•:. In badly infested fields, tuber damage may vary from 12-40 %.

Identification:
.:. Eggs are whitish, globular, 0.5 mm in diameter and ribbed

.:. Caterpillars are smooth, stout, cylindrical, 40-50 mm long,

blackish- brown dorsally and grayish green laterally with
dark stripes .

•:. They curl up into a tight C shape when disturbed .

•:. Adults are dull colored moths with wing spreads of 1 to 1- Cut worm laNae in soil
3/4 inches. Hind wings are usually light in color.
30

Life cycle:
+!+ Moths appear soon after dusk, mate and lay eggs on ventral surface of leaves or moist
soil.

+:. Freshly ploughed fields are preferred for oviposition. Each female lays on an average
300~4 50 eggs in dusters of 30~50.

+!+ Incubation period is 2~ 13 days depending upon the weather conditions. Tiny caterpillars
feed gregariously on foliage for a few days and then segregate and enter into the soil .

•!. The caterpillars are nocturnal and feed at night. During the day these insects hide just
beneath the soil close to the site of the previous night's damage (Fig 13). This pest is
capable of damage sufficient to necessitate the replanting of potato. Total larval period is
10~30 days with five larval stages .

•:. Pupate in soil and the pupal period is 10~30 days .

•:. Total life cycle is completed in 30-68 days depending on the climatic conditions.

+!+ Persistent dry weather with lesser or no rainfall, reduced humidity and 16 ~23 ° C
temperatures favor the development of cutworm.

J);lmaged plant LaNae

Figure 13: Life .cycle of cutworms.

 31

Management of cut worms:

.:. Flooding offields .

•:. Cut worms either aestivate during summer months or hibernate during winters in the soil
while completing their life cycles. Therefore, deep ploughing of potato fields during
summer months in the plains exposes the immature stages to high temperature and
predatory birds .

•:. Hand picking and destruction of early gregarious

caterpillars .

•:. Light traps installed in/around potato fields attract the

adults of cut worms, and helps in mass collection and
destruction ofthe moths .

•:. Garlic as intercrop with potato was found to be effective in

minimizing cut worm damage in potato crop at Shimla .

•:. Natural enemies like Broseus punetatus Dist, Uogryl/us Light trap
bimaeulatus Linn, Maeroeentrus col/aris Spin, Netelia oeel/aris Thomson, Periseepsia
carbonaria Panzer and Turanogonia ehinensis Wiedemann parasitizes A. ipsilon and A.
segetum and therefore should be conserved under natural field conditions .

•:. Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner is a well-known biopesticide. Spraying the crop and ridges
9
with this biopesticide (Bt@ 10 spores/ml) gives a good control.

.:. Entomogenous fungus, Metarrhizium anisopliae Meld. is a best known fungal control of
cut worm. Entomophilic nematode, Steinernema (NeoapJectana) sp. are also well known
as dominant regulatory factors for cut worm populations from various parts of the country.

•:. Use well rotten farm yard manure (FYM) .

•:. Soil application of Chlorpyriphos 20EC @ 2ml/lit of water at 2% plant damage.

 32

2. White Grubs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Species complex
Species complex

1. Brahmina coriacea / '

~
2. Brahmina cirnicollis

3. Brahmina flavoserica

4. Melolontha indica

5. M. furicauda B. coriacea B. flavoserica

6. Holotrichia longipennis

7. H. repitita
8. H. rustica

9. H. serrata

10. H. conferata
H. longipennis B. cr.inicollis
11. H. excise

12. H. nototiocollis

13. Anomala dimidiate

14. A. Iineatopennis
15. A. po/ita
16. A. rugusa
17. A. rufiventis A. lineatopennis A. dimidiate

18. A. communis
19. A. nath,ani

20. Xylotrupes gideon

. 21. Phyllognathus dionysius

22. Lepidiota stigma

Lepidiota stigma
 33

Distribution: Cosmopolitan in distribution

Host range: Polyphagous, damage almost all the vegetable crops, pulses, oilseeds, cereals,
millets, potato, tobacco, sorghum, groundnut, maize, soybean, chillies, ornamental plants,
forest nurseries, etc.

Nature of damage and symptoms:

.:. The damage to potato is caused only by the grubs which feed
on rootlets, roots and tubers. The first stage grub can survive
on the organic matter present in the soil but roots are
preferred as and when encountered .

•:. Older second instar and third instar grubs are more
damaging, which make large, shallow and circular holes on
tubers .

•:. Potato grown during summer as rainfed is prone to attack by

these grubs .

•:. Due to concealed feeding white grubs generally remain

unnoticed and at harvest a large number of tubers are found
infested/damaged.

.:. Sometimes up to 80 % of the crop may be lost. White grub damaged tuber and roots

.:. Adult beetles feed on the foliage of many trees

Identification:

c- shaped white grubs Pupa inside earthen cocoon

.:. Freshly laid eggs are creamy white which turns dirty white before hatching .

•:. FuJI grown grubs are 35-38 mm in length and often coil to "C" shape when disturbed .

•:. Fully grown grub makes an earthen cocoon and changes to pupa.
 34

.:. Full grown larvae are 35-38 mm in length "C" shaped .

•:. Beetles are of different colours (Fig 14).

Figure 14. Identifying features of adult beetle.

Life cycle:
.:. Each female lays 4-40 eggs singly (in 2-7 installments) in soil in its life span. Incubation
period is 7 -12 days (Fig 15) .

•:. There are three larval instars .

•:. The duration of respective instars is about 20, 30 and 75 day.

•:. Total larval duration is about 125 days .

•:. Pupal period ranges from 12-20 days .

•:. Adult longevity ranges between 15 -145 days .

•:. Overwintering as grub in earthen cells (Fig 16) .

•:. There is only one generation in a year. Optimum conditions for white grub growth and
damage humid and wet climate with ~ temperature range of 20- 32°C with a relative
humidity of more than 70 per cent.
 35

Lir.fYC""
tv. . . . . . .

Figure 15. Life cycle of white grubs.

Figure 16. Seasonal activity pattern (life cycle) of white grubs.

Source: http://american-Iawns.com
36

Management:
Two to three deep ploughings immediately after
harvest or before potato planting, to expose the
resting stages to birds or other natural enemies.

Collection and destruction of grubs from soil while

ploughing.

Collect/trap adult beetles via light traps during May-

June at night and kill them.

The beetles can also be collected by shaking or

jerking the host plants during night. The fallen
beetles should be collected and destroyed by putting
them either in kerosinized water or by burning.
Bird predation after phloughing
Application of well rotten FYM only. The use of nitrogenous fertilizers, especially ammonia
and urea, at higher doses kill the first instar grubs.

Removal of weeds from crop vicinity. The host trees (Rubinia, Po!ygonum, Kaithe and
temperate fruit crops) of adults (beetles) should be lopped or pruned.

Seed potatoes should be planted little deep (8-10 cm) instead of normal depth (6 cm).

Cattle urine extracts of botanicals like Melia, Urlica dioca, Nerium, Eucalyptus etc. @5 %
provides good control against white grubs if applied well in time (during sowing, earthing
up and tuber formation stage).
9
Spraying the crop and ridges with this biopesticide Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt @ 10
spores/ml) gives a good control. Several strains of the bacterium, Bacillus popi!liae, have
been found that attack white grubs.

Application of Entomogenous fungus, Metarrhizium anisop/iae Meld, Beauveria bassiana

and B. brongniartiiSacc. @5gm/litofwater.

Conservation of the existing populations of natural enemies or by introducing and

establishing the known bio-control agents obtained from new localities.

Application of Phorate 10G (10-1~ kg/ha) near plant base at the time of earthing up or
drenching of ridges with Chlorpyriphos 20 EC @ 2.5L/lit when 2% plant damage is noticed
orwhen adult beetles appears.

Spray host trees with Chlorpyriphos 20 EC @ 2.5 mlilit of water immediately after first
monsoon shower.

Potato crop should be harvested immediately after required maturity i.e. by September.
Crop left beyond September suffers more.
 37

Biologicatmiuobial COlltl" 01 of 'mite gl"ubs

 38

4) STORAGE PEST
1) Potato tuber moth (PTM) - Phthorimaea opercu/ella Zeller
(Gelechiidae: Lepidoptera)

PTM is a native of South America which was introduced to India in

1906 with seed potatoes imported from Italy.

Distribution: Cosmopolitan in distribution.

Host range: Major pest of Potato but has also been reported from
crops like egg plant, tomato, tobacco, etc.
Phthorimaea opercullela
Nature of damage and symptoms:
.:. Damage is caused by larvae .

•:. Larvae mine the leaves, petioles and terminal shoots

causing wilting .

•:. After tuberization, the larvae enter into the tubers and
feed on them. Larvae tunnel into the pulp which ultimately
becomes unfit for use as seed orfor human consumption.

+!+ The feeding tunnels are packed with black excretory

pellets and the larvae are inside the tunnels .

•:. The infested tubers are further exposed to microbial

PTM damage on foliage
infection which leads to rotting.

+!+ Most obnoxious pest of potato both in fields and the

country stores .

•:. In areas where the pest is left unmanaged , the losses to

potatoes kept in the country stores may be as high as 70
percent. .___'"

Identification
.:. The ' eggs are oval and measure less .than 1r1)m in PTM damage in tuber
diameter. '

.:. Newly emerged larvae are gray, yellowish white with brown head .

•:. Adult is a small grayish brown moth.

Life cycle:
.:. The female moth lays eggs on the underside of leaves or on exposed tubers near the eye.
Each female can lay 150-200 eggs (Fig 17).
 39

.:. Incubation period is 3-7 days .

•:. Larval period is 15-20 days .

•:. Full grown caterpillars come out of the tubers/ foliage and pupate in silken cocoons either
in dried leaves, soils, over the stored tubers or in cracks and crevices in the store. Pupal
period lasts for 11-12 days .

•:. Total life cycle is completed in 20-30 days at optimum conditions of 22-28°C temperature
and 60-70% relative humifdity.

•:. There are 8-9 overlapping generations in a year.

PUPAE

Figure 17. Life cycle of PTM

Management
1. Planting seed tubers at a depth of 10 cm as against the traditional planting depth of 6 cm
reduce its damage to a great extent.

2. The fields should be ridged after 6 to 7 weeks of planting so that the tubers are burried at
least 25cm below the soil surface.

3. In areas where PTM population remains quite high and severe tuber damage is expected,
ridging should be done twice so that the tubers are not exposed at any time for egg laying
and infestation.

4. Timely and adequate irrigations minimize soil cracking and thereby reduce the risk of
tuber exposure to PTM attack or their laying eggs.
40

5. This problem is quite common in areas where potato crop is taken in heavy soils.
Harvested tubers must be removed from the field as early as possible and should not be
kept overnight in the field.

6. Leftover tubers, after harvest, should also be collected. All the plant debris including the
weeds belonging to family Solanaceae should also be collected and destroyed.

7. The crops like tomato, tobacco, chillies and brinjal should not be grown in the vicinity of
potato fields, particularly in PTM prone areas.

8. Store healthy (PTM free) potatoes in cold stores with 2-3

cm thick layers of chopped dried leaves of either of
Lantana camara, Soapnut, Neerl'!, Eucalyptus spp.

9. Installation of PTM sex pheromone traps @ 20 traps/ha

for mass trapping of male moths.

10. Spraying the crop with Bt (10 9 cfu/ml) @ 3ml or GV @ 4

LEliit of water.
Potato tubers stored with
11. Spray of crop with quinalphos @ 0.375 kg or acephate @ dried lantana leaves
0.5 kg a.i.lha.

12. For seed potatoes dusting with cypermethrin dust @500 gm/ton of potato in storage.

13. CIPC (Isopropyl N-(3-chlorophenyl) carbamate) is a sprout suppressant commonly used

on ware potatoes (seed purpose) in country stores and is found effective against PTM
damage in country stores when applied @30ppm.

No treatment CIPC treated tubers

 41

5) NEMATODES
1. Root Knot Nematodes (RKN's) (,tylenchida:
Meloidogynidae)

Species complex

i) Meloidogyne arenaria (Neal) Chitwood

ii) M hap/a Chitwood

iii) M incognita (Kofoid & White) Chitwood

iv) Mjavanica (Kofoid & White) Chitwood

Distribution: Root knot nematodes are world- wide in

Root knot nematode,
distribution. In India they are distributed as follows: source: http://www.en.wikipedia.org
Meloidogyne arena ria - Plains

M hap/a -Hills

M incognita - Certain pockets in hills and plains

Mjavanica - Mid hills and plains of India

Host Range: Polyphagous.

Nature of damage and symptoms:

.:. Knots or gall formation on roots and tubers of potato
RKN infested roots
plants .
•:. Hindrance in normal functions of nutrient and water
uptake/ translocation .
•:. Infested plants are dwarfed, chlorotic and have poor root
development.
.:. The galls on roots are small and often go unnoticed but
tubers have warty growth or rough surface that reduces
their market value .
•:. There is 42.5 % yield reduction upon 100 % tuber
infestation. RKN damage on potato tubers

Life cycle:
nd
.:. The 2 stage juveniles hatch from the eggs and first infest the young roots (Fig 18) .
•:. They form giant cells through which the nematodes extract nourishment from the plant
cells.
 42

.:. Later on the giant cell and development of nematode within the roots results in the
formation of root-knots or galls .
•:. The female larvae gradually enlarge and undergo four moults before forming a pear
shaped structure .
•:. The male nematodes, however, retain their thread like appearance .
•:. Males come out freely from the root system and mate with females to fertilize the eggs .
•:. The female are sedentary depositing 300 to 400 eggs into a gelatinous matrix usually
adhering to the root galls. These eggs hatch readily and invade the fresh roots .
•:. In Shimla hills, M. incognita completes its life cycle in 25-30 days during summer (April-
September) but takes about 65 to 100 days in winter (October-March) .
•:. In the hills normally two generations are completed by the time of tuberization .
•:. On the other hand, tuber infestation in plains remains low mainly because the crop
duration is short and fresh roots are not always available .
•:. Further, hot summers in plains reduce the soil populations of RKNs .
•:. The eggs and larvae can survive for more than 100 days even in the absence of the hosts
during summer months at Shimla hills .
•:. This could be one of the reasons for continuation of higher inoculum levels causing higher
infestation in subsequent crops.

develop in eggs
.
Figure 18. Life cycle of root knot nematode (RKN).
Source: http://www.brisbaneloca/food.ning.com
Management:
.:. Deep ploughing and sun drying offields during summer months help in drying of infective
stages of larvae .
nd
•:. Planting of potato crop during the 2 week of October in autumn and in early January for
the spring can limit RKN infestation on tubers.
 43

.:. Burning of trash in field before planting helps not only by sterilizing the soil but also
enriching it, though possible only for small h~ldings .
•:. Growing one row of trap plants like Tagetes patuta and T erecta (African marigold) in
between 2 or 3 rows of potatoes improves the crop performance by reducing RKN
infestation .

•:. RKN being polyphagous in nature, having a wide host range yet a few crops are free from
M. incognita infestation allowing crop rotation with a non-host, like maize, wheat, millets,
beans etc. for reducing RKN infestation .

•:. Potatoes harvested from RKN infested field should not be used as seed for subsequent
crop. Movement of the soil and water from infested fields to RKNs free fields should also
be avoided. Besides, the field should be kept free from weeds as RKNs have a wide host
range and most of the weeds help them .

•:. Amendment of de-oiled cakes of neem, groundnut, sesamum, castor, mahua and karanj
etc. are known potential examples to minimize root-knot nematodes populations and
losses caused by them
.:. An effective control of RKN can be achieved either through Carbofuran 3G @ 75 kg a.i. or
Aldicarb @ 2 kg ai/ha preferably in two equal splits i.e. half at planting and remaining half
at earthing time.
 44

2. Potato Cyst Nematode (peN) (Tylenchida: Heteroderidae)

Species complex
i) Golden cyst nematode- Globodera rostochiensis (Wollenweber) Behrens

ii) White potato cyst nematode- G. palfida (Stone) Behrens

Distribution: PCNs are native to Andes mountain of South America and presently prevalent in
about 60 countries. The yellow cyst nematode, G. rostochiensis is relatively wide spread (being
reported from 58 countries) while G. pa/lida is less prevalent (present only in about 27
countries). In India, peNs are found in Ootacamund, Nillgiris hills and Kodaikanal hills. There is
domestic quarantine against potato cyst nematode and therefore peNs are restricted to
Nillgiris and Kodaikanal hills in India.
Host range: Potato is the most important host for both G. pallida and G. rostochiensis.
However, potato cyst nematodes (PCN) also attack other solanaceous plants, e.g. tomato,
eggplant and, occasionally, some solanaceous weeds such as bittersweet (Solanum
dulcamara). Each species of peN has several pathotypes; these differ in their ability to multiply
on different potato cultivars.

Nature of damage and symptoms:

.:. peN infestation initially appears in patches and then
spreads in the entire fields within 4-5 years through
irrigation water, wind, agricultural implements, humus
and movement of seed material grown from the infested
fields .
•:. The infested plants lose vigour, become sickly in
appearance with stunted growth, dull appearance and
unhealthy foliage .
•:. I.nfested plants wilt during the sunny and bright days
and require more water per unit weight compared to Potato crop showing patchy
the healthy ones. growth and stunted plants
.:. Besides, they accumulate more calcium but efficiently' Source: http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au
use Nitrogen, Potassium and phosphorus .
•:. The total photosynthesis per plant is significantly reduced
because of reduced leaf area. This leads to drastic
reduction in yield by 65 to 71 % from summer and autumn
crops.

Identification:
Swollen females and brown
cysts of peNs on potato roots
.:. The juveniles and adult males of both the species are
Source: http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au
worm-like,less than 1 mm long and transparent.
 45

Females are almost spherical (ca"ed cysts) and are mainly identified on the basis of
colour. The cycts of G. rostochiensis are golden in colour however G. pal/ida cysts are
,i white.

Life cycle:
.:. The juveniles feed within the roots and are not
easily seen .
•:. As each female matures it swells and becomes
almost spherical, bursting through the root wall.
Only the head of the female remains embedded
in the root (Fig 19) .
•:. The swollen female is shiny, spherical, less than 1
mm in diameter and initially white or cream-
coloured.
+!. The female of G. rostochiensis passes through a
prolonged golden-yellow phase as it matures.
When the female of either species dies, its body
forms a dark, reddish-brown cyst with a hard skin .
•:. Each cyst (cysts are the females body)
usually contains 200-600 eggs . With severe
Figure 19. Life cycle of cyst nematode,
infestations, cysts may occasionally be seen
Source: http://www.plpnemweb.ucdavis.edu
on the surface oftubers .
•:. At harvest, most cysts become detached
from the roots and remain in the soil (viable upto 7-10 years) as a source of infestation for
future potato crops .
•:. Only one life cycle occurs on each growing crop and takes from 38-48 days to complete.
Management
.:. Use of certified seed
.:. Soil testing for PCN
.:. Hygiene protocols for potatoes, equipment, farm workers, soil and water
.:. Crop rotations: Growing non-host crops and following effective crop rotations at least for a
year with any non-solanceous vegetable such as beetroots etc. during autumn brings
down the cysts population to a great extent.
.:. Variety Kufri Swarna and advanced hybrid-OS/01-516 carries resistance against potato
cyst nematodes and it also performs we" even under drought conditions in Nilgiri hills .
•:. Control of non resistant self sown potatoes
.:. Use of Nematicides like neemcake etc. and soil solarization .
•:. Furadan 3G @75 kg/ha in split doses at the time of planting and earthing- up.
46

Annexure I
Important potato pests and their period of activity

Common Name Scientific Name Plant Injury Period of Activity

Larvae cut seedlings

Cutworm Agrotis ipsilon Feb to March
at ground level

Tomato fruit borer, Helicoverpa armigera, Larvae feed on Sept to Oct & March
Tobacco Caterpillar Spodoptera Jitura foliage to April

EpiJachna Both adults and

Hadda beetles Sept to Oct
vigintioctopunctata grubs feed on foliage

Both adults and

Myzus p ersicae nymphs suck
Aphids Aphis fabae plant sap, Nov to March-April
Aphis gossypij Myzu persicae also
acts asvector of viral
diseases

Sap sucker, infest

Amrasca biguttula
Green Leaf hopper leaves & causes Sept to March
biguttuJa
hopper burn

Leaf curling & suck

Whitefly Bemisia tabaci October & March
plant sap

Larvae infest leaves

Potato tuber Moth Phthorimiaea opercu/ella &tubers particularly Sept to March
during storage
 47

Annexure II
Economic Threshold Levels 'of different potato pests

Insect species Initiation of control ETL

measures

Aphid 2 aphids/100 leaves 20 aphids/ 100 compound

leaves

Whiteflies 2-3/plant 9-11 adults/plant

Leafhopper 1-2 adult 5-10 adults/plant

Defoliators (Iepidopterans) 2 larvae/1 0 plant 1-2 larvae/ plant

Cutworms 2% plant damage 1-2 larvae/1 0 plants

White grub With the appearance of 2 or 2 grubs per square feet

more beetles in light traps or
with the emergence of beetles
with the onset of monsoon

PTM 1 larvae/2 plants (in field) 10-20 adults/trap/day and

\

1 hole per tuber (in stores) 2 or more holes/ tuber in

stores

Root knot nematode At the time of planting More than 20 larva/ 200 ml of
soil
48

Annexure III
Insect wise IPM Schedule

Pest IPM Schedule or Control Measures

category For Organic Crop Production For Seed Potato Production

Sucking 1). Use of healthy or virus free seed material -do-

pests from a reliable source
2). Monitoring and mass trapping with
yellow sticky traps (aphids and white flies)
3). Timely rouging of virus infected and
volunteer plants, and also avoid growing
yellow flowering plants in the vicinity
especially crop raised for seed.
4). Spray of cattle urine (1Itr) + neem mixture
(CUNM), with water in 1(CUNM):
9 (water) ratio.
-do-
Timely rouging of virus infected plants
having 2 or more aphids per plant and give
insecticidal sprays of
Methyl demeton (Metasystox 25EC)
@1.2ml/lit water
or
Imidacloprid (Confidor 17.8 SL) @ 2gm/5 lit
water concentration (against aphids, white
flies and thrips).
or
Phorate (Thimate 10G) @10kg/ha
or
Acetamiprid (Pride 20% SLR) @ 250g/ha or
2gm/5 lit of water (aphids, whiteflies)
Haulm cutting at aphid population
approaching 20/100 compound leaves

Defoliators 1). Deep ploughing during summer. -do-

2). Clipping of leaves with egg masses. -do-
3). Handpicking and destruction of larvae -do-
and grubs.
4). Installation of light (1 trap per km -do-
distance in the hills and 1 trap per hectares
in plains) or pheromone traps (5/traps/ha) to
attract and kill the adult beetles and moths.
,
5). Spray of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Spray Carbaryl (Sevin 50WP) @2gm/lit of
@3gm/lit of water water
or or
Spray NSKE@ 2mlliitre of water (weekly Dichlorvos 78EC @ 1millit of water (against
spray). grubs and beetles)
or
Cypermethrin 25EC @ 30mll100 lit of water
(against catepillars)
or
Deltamethrin 28EC @ 1ml/1 0 lit of water
(against caterpillars)
 49

Pest IPM Schedule or Control Measures

For Seed Potato Production
category For Organic Crop Production

Soil pests Deep ploughing before planting and after crop -do-
harvesting to expose immature stages for predations
by birds
, 2). Deep planting apprx. 8cm deep (against white -do-
grubs).
3). Application of well rotten FYM only. -do-
4). Installation of light traps for mass trapping and -do-
killing the adults @ 1 trap per hectare
5). Soil application of neem + cattle urine (5%) during Application of Phorate 10G (10-
emergence of seedling and tuber formation. 20 kg/hal
6). Soil application of Beauvaria bassiana (Larvocel), or
or Metarrhizium anisoplae 5gm/lit of water=O.5% conc. Carbofuran 3G (80-100 kg/ha)
(white grubs, cutworms) near plant base at the time of
earthing up
7). Application of cattle urine extracts of botanicals or
like Melia spp., Urlica dioeca, Nerium indicum, Drenching of ridges with
Eucalyptus spp. etc. @5 % well in time (during Chlorpyriphos (Dursban 20 ECl
@ 2.5mlllit of water at 20-25 days
sowing, earthing up and tuber formation stage). interval
PTM 1). Clean the store before tuber storage -do-
2). Treat tubers with Bt @ 0.05% or GV (1kg talc + 20 -do-
GV infected PTM larvae + 2ml sticker + 1 lit water
mixed and dried) then apply @ 500 gm/bag
3). Pheromone trap @ 4 traps/100 m3 of storage -do-
space and @20 traps/ha in endemic areas for mass
trapping
4). Cover the stored potatoes with powdered -do-
LantanalEucalyptuslNeem leaves
6). Treat tubers before storage with CIPC @ 40ml/t of Spray of Cypermethrin or
potatoes (ware or processing potato tubers) Malathion dust @250gm/quintal
of tubers

Nematodes 1). Deep phloughing -do-

2).lntercropping of ragetes erecta between 2-3 lines -do-

3). Amendment of de-oiled cakes of neem, groundnut,
sesamum, castor, mahua and karanj etc.
4). Planting resistant varieties like Kufri Suwarana,
Kufri Neelima (against cyst nematode) and Hybrid HC-
294 against RKN.
5). Application of biotic agents like Paecilomyces
li/iacinus) Dacty/aria, Aspergil/ius spp. Humico/a
grasea and Bacillus viz. NB-I and B-68
-do-
-do-
Application of Carbofuran @ 3 kg
ailha or Aldicarb @ 2 kg ai/ha
preferably in two equal splits i.e.
half at planting and remaining half
at earthing up.
50

Annexure IV
Potato stage-wise IPM package

Crop IPM Practice Pest Applicable to

stage Type of Location
crop
Planting • Clean cultivation and deep ploughing All All All
• Avoid collateral host All All All
• Soil application of Phorate 10G or White grub, All Hills and
Furadan 3G @ 2-3 kg ai!ha nematodes Nilgiris
• Soil application of Phorate 10G @ 1.0 Aphids Seed Plains
kg!ha
• Deep planting PTM All Mid hills and
• Select resistant varieties-Kufri Swarna, PCN All Plateau
Kufri Neelima and Kufri Thenamalai (un- All Nilgiris
released)
• Crop rotation PCN and RKN Nilgiris
Emergence • Spray 5% cattle urine/solvent extracts of Aphids, Early crop North
Melia, lantana, stinging nettle or other whiteflies, leaf western
locally available potential biopesticidal hopper and plains
plants'. mites
• Spray of talc based formulations of
entomopathogenic bacteria or fungi··
• Spray Dicofil @ 1-2mlllitre of water on
35 days old crop
• Spray with Chlorpyriphos 20EC @ 2.5 Cutworm All All
kg!ha

Tuber • Apply second dose of Phorate/Furadan White grubs! All/seed Hills, Nilgiris
initiation if half applied at planting nematodes! and plains
(earthing aphids
up)
Bulking • Spray Methyl demeton 25 EC @ 0.03% Aphids Seed Hills
• Removal of collateral host or spraying
them with Quinalphos @ 0.05% White grubs Seed! Hills
• Fix light traps in the comer of the fields table
• Spray Bt@ 0.05% or GV @ 2 LE
PTM Table Mid hills!
, Plateau

Leaf • Haulm cutting for vector control Aphids Seed! All

senescence • Pheromone traps for mass trapping of PTM Table Mid
PTM hills!Plateau

Harvesting • Early harvest and disposal/storage. All All All

• Collection and destruction of pest All All All
damaged tubers
 51

Crop IPM Practice Pest Applicable to

stage Type of Location
crop

Storage Preferably store potatoes in cold storage Vector and Seed All
In country stores: PTM
• Clean the store before storing material Table Mid hills
• Treat tubers with Bt @ 0.05% or GV PTM
(1kg talc + 20 GV infected PTM larvae + All
2ml sticker + 1 lit water mixed and dried)
then apply @ 500 gm/bag
Pheromone trap @ 4 traps/100 m3 of
storage space
Cover the stored potatoes with All
LantanalEucalyptus!Neem leaf
• CIPC treatment to potato tubers All
• Treatment of tubers with talc based
formulations of potential All
botanicals/entomopathogenic All
bacteria/fungi. **

' Method of preparation of cattle urine/solvent plant extracts: Plant extracts can be prepared either in cattle urine or
in another chemical solvent (methanol, acetone , ethyl alcohol etc.) . In case of cattle urine extracts the leaves of test
plant material are shade dried and grinded to powdered form and then mixed in urine in 1:9 ratio, for fermentation . After
15 days the solution is thoroughly mixed and filtered through Whatmann filter paper to get the pure extract. This extract
is considered as 100 per cent and is further diluted with water as per the required concentration for spray purpose . To
get the chemical solvent extracts, the powdered and dried plant material is subjected to Soxhlet's extraction for about 8
hours at 60 0 C with the desired solvent.

*'Method of preparation of talc based formulations of entomopathogens/botanicals : Talc based formulation of

bacterial and fungal pathogens are prepared by mixing culture broth and fungal growth with sterilized talc at 40:60 ratio .
The mixture is dried under aseptic conditions for a week and then dried under vacuum overnight. The material is then
powdered and the spore load is estimated by spread plate technique. The spore count of the final product is adjusted to
1 x 10'0 spores per gram of the talc. In case of botanicals, urine or solvent extracts are mixed with talc in 1 :2 ratio (1 part
talc: 2 parts plant extract) and dried for about a week. After complete drying the material is ready to use.