Sumitomo Chemical Aims for a Pest Free Potato Production Area in Jalandhar

Sumitomo Chemical is creating awareness among the Potato cultivators of Punjab region in India so as to reduce the losses in the produce of this year. The major pests in potato are as follows:

Greasy Cutworm/ Black cut worm: Agrotis ipsilon

Potato tuber moth: Phthorimaea operculella

White grubs: Holotrichia sp.

Tobacco Caterpillar: Spodoptera litura

Green Leaf Hopper Empoasca kerri

Green peach aphid: Myzus persicae

Whitefly: Bemisia tabaci Greasy Cutworm/ Black cut worm: Agrotis ipsilon Symptoms of damage Young larvae feed on the epidermis of the leaves. Older larvae come out at night and feed young plants by cutting their stems They also damage the tubers by eating away part of them. Identification of pest Larva Adult Eggs Creamy white, dome-shaped eggs, laid singly on lower surface of the leaves Larvae Newly emerged young larva is yellow in colour The full-grown larva is dark or dark brown with a plump and greasy body. Pupa Dark brown pupae are found in earthen cells lying underground in the potato fields. Adult Moth Dark with some grayish patches on the back and dark streaks on the forewings. ___________________________________________________________________________________ Potato tuber moth: Phthorimaea operculella Symptoms of damage It is a pest of field and storage Larva tunnels into foliage, stem and tubers Galleries are formed near tuber eyes Potato tuber moth infested tuber Potato tuber moth infested tuber  Potato tuber moth Infested leaves Larvae Adult Identification of pest Egg - laid singly –the ventral surface of foliage and exposed tubers. Larva - Yellow coloured caterpillar with dark brown head. Pupa: Pupation occurs within a cocoon among the trash, clods of the earth in the field. Adult: Small narrow winged moth, greyish brown forewings and hind wings- dirty white. ___________________________________________________________________________________ White grubs: Holotrichia sp. Symptoms of damage Grubs feed on roots and tubers Identification of pest Larva:   ‘C’ shaped grub  Adult Brown beetle with pale prothorax ____________________________________________________________________________________ Tobacco Caterpillar: Spodoptera litura Symptoms of damage The young larvae first feed gregariously and scrape the leaves. Older larvae spread out and may completely devour the leaves resulting in poor growth of plants. Larva Adult Identification of pest Egg: -masses appear golden brown Larva: - pale greenish with dark markings Gregarious in the early stages Adult Forewings – brown colour with wavy white marking Hind wings-  white colour with a brown patch along the margin ____________________________________________________________________________________ Green Leaf Hopper Empoasca kerri Symptoms of damage Tips of affected leaves become brown, turn upwards and get dried up Identification of pest Egg - elongated yellow-white egg is deposited in leaf vein. Nymph - Pale – green, wedge shaped Winged pads extend up to the fifth abdominal segment. Adult It is a wedge shaped and pale green insect ____________________________________________________________________________________ Green peach aphid: Myzus persicae Symptoms of damage Aphids suck sap of plants, as a result of which leaves turn pale and dry up. This pest also transmits various viral to potato plants. Identification of pest It resembles wingless adult but the size is small. __________________________________________________________________________________ Whitefly: Bemisia tabaci Symptoms of damage Nymphs suck sap from the leaves and lower their vitality. Yellowing and curling of leaf Sooty mould develops on affected leaves Identification of pest Egg It is smooth, sub elliptical, stalked at broader basal end. Its colour is light yellow, when freshly laid, turn dark brown later on. Nymph Pale-yellow in colour Adult It is small winged insect having light yellow Wings are pure white and has prominent long legs. ________________________________________________________________________________ #These blogs were written as a part of the internship program at Sumitomo Chemicals.