Evaluation au laboratoire du comportement du charançon Cylas puncticollis Boheman (Coleoptera: Brentidae) vis-à-vis de quatre variétés de patate douce (Ipomoea batatas Lam) au Burkina Faso

Abstract

In Burkina Faso, damage by the weevil C. puncticollis is the main biotic constraint to sweet potato production. Various control methods are being developed, including the selection of resistant varieties. The objective of this study is to evaluate the behaviour of C. puncticollis towards four sweet potato varieties. These are the exotic varieties (CAROMEX and JEWEL), the local variety (BF59) and the improved variety (HEERE). The parameters of C. puncticollis evaluated on these varieties are: its preference, fecundity, reproductive capacity and larval development time. The results show that HEERE is the least preferred, only 3% of the C. puncticollis females chose this variety. The oviposition rate is higher (9.75) on CAROMEX and lower (0.75 eggs) on HEERE. The number of offspring obtained was lower (63.25) on HEERE than the other three varieties. However, the duration of larval development was longer (27.35) on this variety. It should be noted from this study that HEERE is more resistant to C. puncticollis than the other three varieties. This variety can be recommended to farmer and in breeding programmes.