Sugarcane Borer, Diatraea saccharalis (F.) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), Injury and Survival in Energy Cane Versus Sugarcane

Abstract

Energy cane and sugarcane are genetically similar, but due to differences in plant growth, morphology and fiber content, it is important to understand sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (F.), feeding injury and survival in energy cane cultivars versus sugarcane cultivars. In this study, free-choice and no-choice tests were conducted with sugarcane borer larvae on energy cane (UFCP 78-1013, UFCP 82-1655, UFCP 84-1047) and sugarcane (CP 88-1762, CP 89-2143, CP 00-1101) cultivars. Overall, the feeding preference and injury varied more in individual cultivars than a trend in energy cane versus sugarcane. In free-choice test, small larvae preferred UFCP 82-1655 leaves more than two sugarcane cultivars (CP 89-2143 and CP 00-1101) for feeding. There was no feeding preference in large larvae for the stalks. In no-choice tests, weight gain in small larvae and number of holes bored by large larvae were lowest in energy cane cultivar UFCP 84-1047 and highest in sugarcane cultivar CP 88-1762, with no difference in other cultivars. Lower stalk injury in UFCP 84-1047 in no-choice test was probably due to its greater stalk rind hardness than sugarcane as well as other energy cane cultivars. Sugarcane borer survival was similar in all the cultivars. Our results show that energy cane is a host for sugarcane borer but injury varies with cultivar and hence cultivar selection may play an important role in developing sugarcane borer management strategies in energy cane. Further research will be needed to evaluate energy cane response to sugarcane borer infestation under field conditions.