Effect of the biostimulant PSP1 for the protection of sugarcane against Diatraea saccharalis

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

Hyderabad

Congreso; XXI ISSCT Congress; 2023

Diatraea saccharalis (F.) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is the main pest affecting sugarcane(Saccharum spp. hybrids) in the Americas. The use of biological products inducing plantdefenses and preventing infestation of the plants by D. saccharalis might represent asustainable management strategy for this pest. The biostimulant PSP1, developed by theInstituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino (ITANOA), contains the defenseinducing protein AsES (Acremonium strictum Elicitor Subtilisin) as the main active ingredient.This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of PSP1 against D. saccharalis. Additionally, sinceAsES shares 57-61% of its sequence with insecticidal proteins, its effect on D. saccharalisneonates was evaluated. Two foliar applications of 20% PSP1, four and two days beforeinfestation, decreased sugarcane plant mortality by 37% compared to non-treated plants. PSP1had no effect on the viability and development of D. saccharalis larvae but activated a plantdefense response. These preliminary results provide additional information on PSP1, which ismarketed as Howler® and is commercially available as a protective agent against pathogens ofdiverse crops. This new protective property could greatly contribute to integrated pestmanagement programs by significantly reducing the use of conventional pesticides, minimizingthe impact on the environment and reducing the economic cost.