Development of potato cultivars resistant of tuber moth, Pthorimaea operculella (Zeller), in Colombia.

Abstract

Several wild and cultivated Potato species were utilized to obtain hybrids which were tested for tuber moth resistance in the laboratory. Some of these new hybrids showed high resistance to tuber moth in the tubers. It is postulated that this resistance is caused by the action of toxic substances generated when the tuber moth larvae start eating the tubers. It was found a promising done that had a high resistance to the insect, in addition to high yielding, good cooking quality, and tolerance to late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans.
Additional Index Words: trichomes, polyphenols, melanine, total solids, 2n pollen, Phytophthora infestans.