Agroecological Management of Stem Borers for Healthy Seed Production 2 in Sugarcane

NIKPAY, A.; VEJAR COSTA, G.; BUDEGUER, F.; GOEBEL, F.R.; PERERA, M. F.; QIN, Z.Q.

Advances in Seed Production and Management

Springer

Año: 2021; p. 1 - 37

Sugarcane and interspecific hybrids are the main source of raw sugar in the globe. This plant is cultivated on more than 20 million hectares in more than 100 countries such as in South America, the United States, Australia, South Africa, Southeast and Southwest Asia, and overseas territories of Europe. Sugarcane has also been considered as eco-friendly source of energy in the form of bioethanol as energy cane. Sugarcane is vulnerable to biotic and abiotic stressors which increase the cost of production. Moth stem borers are the main entomological problems in all sugarcane-producing countries except Australia. The larval stage of stem borers feeds directly on the vegetative tissues that storeSsucrose and therefore directly reduces yield, but larval feeding also provides sites for the introduction of disease organisms. Both forms of damage can drastically affect yield and quality. Tunneling into stalks leads to reduced growth, weakening the stalks and resulting to stalk breakage. When severely damaged, stalks may rot, apical dominance can be lost resulting in the formation of side shoots, and late