Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 6, 2026
An Experimental Study on Colorado Potato Beetle Hibernation Under Natural Conditions
Published on: November 17, 2023
Biological performance of Colorado potato beetle larvae on potato genotypes with differing levels of polyphenol
P Castañera1, J C Steffens, W M Tingey
1Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Tower Rd. Insectary, 14853-2604, Ithaca, New York.
Abstract:
Two potato genotypes resistant to the Colorado potato beetle (CPB) and three susceptible genotypes were used to investigate the role of total foliar polyphenol oxidase (PPO) on the performance of CPB larvae in long-term feeding assays. A significant positive correlation was found between larval mortality and PPO content in potato foliage. Moreover, a significant negative correlation was also observed between PPO content and larval weight, fecundity, and relative larval growth rate. These results suggest a significant role of PPO in conferring potato resistance to the Colorado potato beetle at least in those clones where the PPO levels were above a certain threshold.
