Abstract
Understanding sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) response to multiple pest injury, sugarcane borer (Diatraea saccharalis) and spittlebug (Mahanarva fimbriolata), is essential to make better management decisions. Moreover, the consequences of both pests on the sugarcane raw material quality have not yet been studied. A field experiment was performed in São Paulo State, Brazil, where sugarcane plants were exposed to pests individually or in combination. Plots consisted of a 2-m long row of caged sugarcane plants. Photosynthesis was measured once every 3 months (seasonal measurement). Yield and sugar production were assessed. The measured photosynthesis rate was negatively affected by both borer and spittlebug infestations. Photosynthesis reduction was similar on plants infested by both pests as well as by spittlebug individual infestation. Plants under spittlebug infestation resulted in yield losses and represented 17.6% (individual infestation) and 15.5% (multiple infestations). The sucrose content and the sucrose yield per area were reduced when plants were infested by multiple pests or spittlebug.
Highlights
The sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius, 1794) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is one of the most important pests of sugarcane, Saccharum spp., and maize, Zea mays L., occurs in several countries of the Americas, and is commonly found in all sugarcane producing areas in those countries (Dinardo-Miranda, 2008; White et al, 2008)
Photosynthesis, yield and raw material quality of sugarcane injured by multiple pests
In the treatment with both pests combined, the infestation intensity of sugarcane borer was 13.63% and 2.95 nymphs/m/day for spittlebug, which were similar to the infestations observed in sugarcane borer and spittlebug treatments, respectively
Summary
The sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius, 1794) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is one of the most important pests of sugarcane, Saccharum spp., and maize, Zea mays L., occurs in several countries of the Americas, and is commonly found in all sugarcane producing areas in those countries (Dinardo-Miranda, 2008; White et al, 2008). During the 1990’s in Brazil, the use of fire to burn sugarcane fields for manual harvesting was replaced by mechanical harvesting This new harvesting system allows a large amount of shredded sugarcane leaves and tips to be kept on the soil surface causing environmental changes in sugarcane habitat. Because sugarcane production in Brazil routinely faces simultaneous injury by two important insect pests, characterizing sugarcane responses to these pests individually and in combination is essential for proper pest management. Despite the importance of the two sugarcane pests and their simultaneous occurrence during part of the growing season, sugarcane response to the injury of these pests combined has not been examined. Knowledge of plant responses to simultaneous injury by pests can be an important tool to improve current decision-making thresholds, because the occurrence of pests in field may not be isolated in time. Our objective in this study was to evaluate the impact of these two pests, individually and in combination, on photosynthesis and its direct impact on yield and yield quality of sugarcane
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