Damage caused by Meloidogyne javanica and Pratylenchus zeae to sugarcane cultivars

Abstract

ABSTRACT Nematodes are important parasites of sugarcane, significantly reducing the yield and the longevity of the crop. Damage caused by them varies with the susceptibility of sugarcane cultivars; thus, it is important for growers to learn the reaction of new genotypes in order to better direct control measures. The objective of this study was to evaluate the damage caused by nematodes to cultivars newly released for commercial planting. Two experiments were conducted in fields infested by Meloidogyne javanica and Pratylenchus zeae. Both experiments were arranged in split-plot randomized block design. The cultivars were planted in the plots, and two carbofuran 350SC levels, 0 and 7 L ha-1, were applied on two subplots (treated and non-treated subplots). On average, the subplots treated with the nematicide had their yield increased by 10%, compared to non-treated subplots, suggesting that nematodes reduced the yield of cultivars by at least 10%, but such a reduction reached 22% for cultivar IACSP97-7569 in experiment 1 and 17% for CTC20 in experiment 2. Damage was insignificant for cultivars CTC9001, CTC9002, IACSP93-3046, IACSP95-5094, IACSP96-3060, IACSP97-4039 and RB975952 in experiment 1 and for cultivars IACSP97-4039, RB867515 and RB966928 in experiment 2. These cultivars can be considered tolerant to hpsMhpshps. javanicahps andhps P. zeae.hps