1. Cultural Practices and Resistant Varieties in Potato
Dr. S.K. Dutta & Dr. Badal Bhattacharyya
Department of Entomology
Assam Agricultural University,Jorhat-13

2. Summer deep ploughing (end of July to middle of August) to expose the different life stages of soil insect pests to expose them to predatory birds and desiccation by sunlight
Fig. 1. Predatory birds feeding on insects exposed by summer
deep ploughing
Fig. 2. White grubs collected after summer
summer deep ploughing
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3. Follow crop rotation to avoid pest infestation in potato
Crop Sequence:
Rice-Rice-Potato
Summer Rice – potato
Rice-Potato-Cowpea
Rice-Potato-Green gram

4. Adjustment of planting and harvesting time for avoidance of insect infestation
Fig. 3. Harvesting of potatoes
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5. Source: AINP on White grub, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat-13
Maintain weed free crop initially up to six weeks after planting by resorting to two hand hoeing / earthing up operations at 3rd and 6th weeks of planting
Fig. 4. Earthing up in potato field
Source: AINP on White grub, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat-13

6. Ensure growing of healthy crops with optimum plant population (1,30,000 plants/ha ) by using recommended seed rate ( q/ha) and balanced doses of fertilizers 60:50:50 in rainfed and 60:100:100 in irrigated condition)
Adjustment of planting time of summer crop in hilly areas to prevent aphid attack

7. Source: AINP on White grub, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat-13
Prepare high ridges to avoid exposure of seed tubers to egg laying by potato tuber moth
Fig. 5. High ridging in potato
Source: AINP on White grub, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat-13

8. Fig. 6. Cut worms exposed from under green grass
Keeping plant debris/green grasses at different locations of cut worm infested field in the evening, which serve as hiding places for cut worm larvae , where they could be destroyed next day
Fig. 6. Cut worms exposed from under green grass
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9. Allow time for previous crop residue to decompose
Fig. 7. Decomposition of crop residues
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10. Rouging of volunteer potato plants to reduce aphid infestation
Fig. 8. Rogueing of volunteer potato plants
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11. Fig. 9. Potato tubers infested by tuber moth
Removal and destruction of infested tubers to check tuber moth infestation in both storage and field conditions
Fig. 9. Potato tubers infested by tuber moth
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12. http://www. hrefresh.com/ Fig. 11.Potato infested by tuber moth
Do not keep harvested potato tubers in the field to prevent egg laying by tuber moth X
Fig. 10. Keeping harvested potato in field
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Fig. 11.Potato infested by tuber moth
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13. Fig. 13. Proper pulverization of soil decreases wire worm population
Grow potato in well pulverized soil. Proper soil pulverization decreases wireworm population both by direct injury and by exposing them to desiccation or predation by birds
Fig. 12. wire worms
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Fig. 13. Proper pulverization of soil decreases wire worm population
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14. Standing water for short period before sowing can help to eliminate the eggs of mole crickets
Fig. 14. Keeping standing water in field for short period
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15. Fig.15. Construction of raised potato nursery
Construct raised nursery to reduce the seedling damage by mole crickets
Fig.15. Construction of raised potato nursery
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16. Potato crop irrigated at 30 and 60 days after germination reduces red ant infestation in potato
Fig. 16. Irrigation in potato field
Source: AINP on White grub, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat-13

17. Liming @ 3.5 quintal/hectare prior to sowing of potato tubers reduces red ant infestation
Fig. 17. Lime
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18. Fig. 18. Burning of potato plants
Pulling and burning of heavily mite infested potato plants
Fig Burning of potato plants
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19. Source http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://ddandkw.com
Abundant ground water, straw retention technique and soils with high organic matter content provide ideal moisture level and shelter to snails and slugs. In snail endemic areas such conditions may be discouraged to a preferable extent or kept at optimum.
Fig. 19.Snails and slugs
Source

20. Avoid planting new crops downwind from those infested with mites, as the mites will be spread to the new crop by the wind.
Resistant variety
Kufri Chandramukhi may be grown in aphid/leaf roll/ potato virus Y endemic areas