Insect Pests Associated with Sweet Potato (Ipomoea Batatas L.) Genotypes Planted on Open Field in Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) play a major role in human and animal nutrition and enterprise, however, the plant cultivation is associated with pest infection. Hence, the objective of this paper was to investigate the insect pests associated with sweet potato (Ipomoea Batatas L.) genotypes planted on open field in Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria using appropriate standard methods. Data obtained reveal that a total of 1454 different insect species were collected. The grasshopper recorded the highest number of 206(14.17%) while The Hawk moth recorded the least number of 12(0.83%). PGA14011-43 and Local best recorded the best vine (8.2) each while the least was recorded in OBARE and NAN (5.0) each. Genotype 87/OP/195 recorded the highest yield, followed by PGA14011-43 while the least yield was recorded in TU-PURPLE. The difference in the yield among the genotypes were statistically significant (P<0.05). Genotypes 87/OP/195 and PGA14011-43 can be released to farmers for commercial and subsistence production.