Registration of Two Sugarcane Germplasm Clones with Antibiosis to the Sugarcane Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

Abstract

‘Ho 08–9001’ (Reg. No. GP‐21, PI 659991) and ‘Ho 08–9003’ (Reg. No. GP‐22, PI 659992) sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) germplasm were selected as clones for the combined traits of resistance to the sugarcane borer [Diatraea saccharalis (F.)], vigorous growth habit, sucrose content, and biomass yield from the cross Ho 02–95 × MPTH 97–003. Ho 08–9001 had 13% bored internodes (10% bored internodes is the accepted economic injury level for sugarcane borer in Louisiana) but had comparatively low values for adult emergence and larval weight. Ho 08–9003 had bored internodes equal to the accepted economic injury level and also had low values for adult emergence and larval weights. The low adult‐emergence values and low larval weights suggest antibiosis as the mechanism of resistance to the sugarcane borer; antibiosis is a resistance mechanism not yet exploited for stem borer resistance in Louisiana. When averaged across the plant‐cane and first‐ratoon crop, Ho 08–9001 had 21% more cane yield (117 vs. 89 Mg ha−1) and 53% less sucrose content (54 vs. 115 kg Mg−1) than HoCP 96–540. While Ho 08–9003 had 34% more cane yield (119 vs. 89 Mg ha−1) than the cultivar ‘HoCP 96–540’, but 37% less sucrose content (67 vs. 115 Mg ha−1). The combination of resistance, high early‐generation (F1) sucrose, and high cane yield makes these two clones attractive to sugarcane breeders to develop insect‐resistant sugarcane cultivars.