Abstract

C. N. Ehisianya, S. O Afuape and T. N. C. Echendu

Eight orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) cultivars namely: NRSP/05/022, centennial, CIP440293, CIP199034.1, CIP199004.2, shaba, ex-oyinga, SPK004 and one high yielding white-fleshed cultivar TIS87/0087 (check) were evaluated for yield and susceptibility to Cylas puncticollis at the research farm of National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria between June to October 2010 and 2011. The trial was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The result identified that the newly introduced OFSP cultivars did not differ (P>0.05) significantly from the check plant stand at harvest. The foliage weight of Centennial was however significantly (P≤0.05) higher than the check. NRSP/05/022 had comparable root yield (total and marketable root numbers and weights), but a lower C. puncticollis attributes when compared with the check cultivar. Furthermore, the higher C. puncticollis total progeny number in the roots of CIP440293, centennial, CIP199004.2 and CIP199003.1 compared with the check is an indication of their higher susceptibility.