INIVIT B 98-3, first sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) cultivar tolerant to Weevil (Cylas formicarius F.).

Abstract

One of the most important factors limiting the production of sweet potato in the world is weevil (Cylas formicarius F.). So it is necessary to continue working on breeding in search of new more tolerant cultivars to weevil. 18 cultivars were used like parents, with high tolerance to weevil of the National Germplasm Collection of sweet potato existing in the INIVIT and by way of polycross the lines that over a period of 8 years of evaluation and selection, gave rise to the first cuban sweet potato cultivar highly tolerant to Cylas formicarius, called INIVIT B 98-3. Of the promising cultivars and current commercials is the one that has less involvement by weevil, only 2,5% on average in both seasons of the year, for several consecutive years.