EFFECT OF THE BIOSTIMULANT PSP1 FOR THE PROTECTION OF SUGARCANE AGAINST DIATRAEA SACCHARALIS

BUDEGUER F.; MICHAVILA G.; CHALFOUN N.R.; RACEDO J.

Congreso; International Sugarcane Congress ISSCT 2023; 2023

Diatraea saccharalis (F.) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is the main pest affecting sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrids) in the Americas. The use of biological products inducing plant defenses and preventing infestation of the plants by D. saccharalis might represent a sustainable management strategy for this pest. The biostimulant PSP1, developed by the Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino (ITANOA), contains the defense-inducing protein AsES (Acremonium strictum Elicitor Subtilisin) as the main active ingredient. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of PSP1 against D. saccharalis. Additionally, since AsES shares 57-61% of itssequence with insecticidal proteins, its effect on D. saccharalis neonates was evaluated. Two foliar applications of 20% PSP1, four and two days before infestation, decreased sugarcane plant mortality by 37% compared to non-treated plants. PSP1 had no effect on the viability and development of D. saccharalis larvae but activated a plant defense response. These preliminary results provide additional information on PSP1, which is marketed as Howler® and is commercially available as a protective agent against pathogens of diverse crops. This new protective property could greatly contribute to integrated pest management programs by significantly reducing the use of conventional pesticides, minimizing the impact on the environment and reducing the economic cost.