Abstract

Soil insect (wireworms Agriotes spp. and Black cutworm Agrotis ipsilon and molecricket Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa are a serious pest problem on potato (Solanum tuberosum) in middle of Iraq. They injure the crop by feeding on seed pieces soonafter planting and burrowing into tubers and reduced market quality and crop prodection. They are among the most difficult and destructive pest to control. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of some soil insecticides (Force 15 and 20 kg ha, Confidor 20 kgha and Furdan 20 kgha) to protect potato tubers from infected by these three pests in autumn and spring season 2005-2006 in the field of College of Agriculture University of Baghdad. The results showed that the Force and Confidor reducing the percentage of infected tubers by the three insects in the two sessons. The percentage of infect tubers were 3.45, 3.73, 6.99, 3.49 % respectively in autumn season compared with control treatment which amounted to 10.34 %, and in spring season was 4.48, 4.87, 6.38, 5.42 % respectively compared with control treatment which amounted 12.49%. The results showed that the divided tubers that used as seed in spring season more susceptible to wireworm infected than the not divided tubers. The results showed that the mole cricket was much serious pest than wireworm and black cutworm and injure tubers in the two seasons. The wireworm and black cutworm larvae were most apparent on or near potato tubers in first of April to middle of June in spring season, and from first of September to end June in autumn season.

The article was added to IASJ on 2012-10-21

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