Potato Pests: Biocontrol and Value Addition Products
N. S. Ingle
Division of Horticulture (Vegetable Science), Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar, India.
Asif Yousuf
Division of Entomology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, J and K, India.
Pawar Shubham Tarasing *
Division of Entomology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, J and K, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a globally important food crop. Yet, its productivity is severely constrained by a complex of insect pests including aphids, tuber moths, cutworms and leaf-feeding beetles. Conventional reliance on chemical insecticides has raised concerns over environmental safety, pest resistance and residue accumulation. In response, eco-friendly biological control strategies such as the use of natural enemies (predators, parasitoids, entomopathogenic fungi and nematodes), botanicals and microbial biopesticides are gaining prominence as sustainable alternatives. This review synthesizes current knowledge on major insect pests of potato and highlights advances in biological control approaches that reduce chemical dependence while maintaining yield stability. Beyond pest suppression, the paper explores pathways for value addition, including the development of biopesticide based products, integration of pest-resistant cultivars and utilization of potato value added products for industrial and nutritional applications. By linking pest management with value chain innovation, eco-friendly biological control offers a dual benefit: safeguarding potato production and contributing to sustainable agricultural economies.
Keywords: Biological control, predator, biopesticides, Entomopathogenic Nematode (EPN), parasitiods, value-added product