Damage assessment of the Liriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard) (Diptera: Agromyzidae) to potato varieties

The potato leafminer fly, Liriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard) (Diptera: Agromyzidae) is a polyphagous pest attacking many vegetables and ornamental plants. We have reported L. huidobrensis infesting the economic crop, potato, in the field of southern part of Korean peninsula in 2011, for the first time in Korea. Then this report assessed the damage level of potato (Solanum tuberosum), five varieties (Ghowun, Daeri, Sumi, Chubeak, and Seohong) by L. huidobrensis. Three levels of pest density (High: 100, low: 15 individuals/ 2 plants and control) were treated in a caged field condition with 5 replications. All potato varieties were exposed to the pest for 3 weeks. Parameters such as leaf area, number of mines, damage rate, and yield loss were measured. Damage rate and number of mines were found increasing with increase in the infestation levels. Damage rate 54.31% and 17.87% was recorded for 100 and 15 individuals released level. Lower plant parts were found most vulnerable to the leafminer attack as compared to upper plant parts for all the tested potato varieties. Yield loss was the similar pattern to the results of the damage rates. Higher yield loss (52.64%) was recorded in high density treatment. Among the varieties, Chubaek showed higher yield loss, 64.28% followed by Daeri, 55.88%. Further study is needed to quantify the damage of this pest in potato plants and also to pave the ways to manage this new pest.

Keywords: leafminer, pest density, potato varieties, yield loss