Green Peach Aphid Feeding Damage to Potato in Various Plant Growth Stages12

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Abstract
The effects of Myzus persicae (Sulzer) infestations on potato foliage and tuber production were studied at 3 consecutive degree-day (DD) intervals (ca. 20 days each). Plants were harvested immediately after an infestation period, or after infestation they were maintained aphid free until the end of the experiment. The interval of aphid-free growth after infestation was used to determine whether the plant could resume normal growth and how infestation affected final yield. Infested plants exhibited the following reductions in dry weight: first period (DD = 519), no tubers for comparison; second period (DD = 745), 54% reduction; and third period (DD = 963), 17% reduction. Plants maintained aphid free after first-period infestation showed a 35% reduction in tuber dry weight at final harvest. Aphid feeding during any period decreased the moisture content of infested leaves. Plants under the stress of early-season infestation allocated more resources for leaf growth, but stem growth was severely retarded.

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