Colorado Potato Beetle Resistance in a Wild Potato, Solanum berthaultii12

Solanum berthaultii Hawkes was compared with cultivars of S. tuberosum L. for impact on the population dynamics of Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say). Oviposition of overwintered and newly emerged summer adults in the laboratory was reduced 98 and 96%, respectively, on S. berthaultii compared with S. tuberosum. Oviposition on a S. berthaultii × S. tuberosum hybrid (B227-63 from the Cornell breeding program) was reduced 78% compared with S. tuberosum. In the laboratory, adult survival was not affected by confinement on S. berthaultii, but larval survival was significantly reduced and developmental time was lengthened. Field evaluations indicated reduced oviposition, reduced larval survival, and increased developmental time on S. berthaultii compared with S. tuberosum.