SUGARCANE: PEST AND ITS MANAGEMENT

ABSTRACT:

Sugarcane is tall and relatively strong class of perennial grasses that rae known to have a high sugar content. Sugarcane is grown in sub tropical region of nepal. The yield of sugarcane is detrimental affected by the insects pests. Changes in cropping patterns including the cultivation of high yielding varieties and hybrids have added to the problem in some areas. Plant breeding has been successful to some extent in keeping up with new and evolving diseases and pests. Innovation in agronomic practices, advent of chemicals for control, and more recently genetic engineering tools have been providing new opportunities for reduction of crop losses due to biotic pressures. Insect control is even more important as many viral diseases are transmitted by insects.

INTRODUCTION:

Sugarcane refers to the several species and hybrids of tall perennial grass of the family Poaceae. It is cultivated for its juice from which sugar is processed. Most of the sugarcane is grown in sub tropical and tropical areas. The plant is also grown for the biofuel production and other by products like straw, bagasse, molasses. The plant itself can be used as a fed for livestock. The most common species of saccharum officinarum, s. barberi, s. sinensis. The most important constraints in the production of sugarcane in nepal is insect pests. The different stages of plant is susceptible to insects pests. Lower yield of the crop is due to aging of crop, improper crop maintenance, severe insects pests incidence, climate changes, etc. pests were found to cause severe damage in different part of regions. The outcome from the crop is decreasing so the insects pests and their management are discussed in this article.

METHODOLOGY:

The article is based on literature search in different web based databases such as google scholar, web of science, research gate science direct, related articles and blogs. The search is focused on pest infestations during sugarcane production, their impacts and management. The key terms used during the search were sugarcane, pests, impacts and management. Furthermore, several kinds of word combinations were also taken during search to find more articles. Moreover, the joural literature books reports blogs and newspaper were carried out to asses the current condition of insects pest of saccharum officinarum.

REVIEWS ON INSECTS PEST OF SACCHARUM

Among various limiting factors for low yield of saccharum, the incidence of insects pests assumes high significance. These are describing below:

1. Early shoot borer:

It is widely distributed in all sugarcane growing areas of the country. The pest attacks the crop in its early stages of growth with peak activity during March-June. The borer enters into young shoots and tunnels downwards. The upper portion of the central leaf whorl is thus cut off and dries up causing dead hearts in shoots from about a month old to 2 – 3 months crop. If the attack is in early stages the mother shoot dies completely and late attack induces profuse tillering.

Management: Light earthing up of the tillers at the early stages of the crop (month old) during May and June reduces the incidence. A second earthing a month later reduces the borer attack considerably. Mulching with cane trash at the early stages also has been reported to reduce the incidence and help in conserving moisture. Cutting the affected tillers as close to the ground as possible and destroying them. At the time of sowing Setts are treated with 2.5 L chlorpyriphos 20 EC or 600 ml fipronil 5 EC (Reagent) (for sandy soil 700 ml) in 600-1000 L water per acre spray on the furrow.

2. Internode borer:

The borer begins its activity soon after internode formation and the damage continues until harvest. They bore into the canes near the nodes, entry holes are plugged with excreta. Entry is generally confined to the first five internodes and shortened them. Affected tissues become reddened. Larvae feed and multiply in water shoots. One larva found in a single cane damages 1-3 internodes. Lodging, high dosage of nitrogen, waterlogged condition and presence of water shoots favor buildup of pest.

Management: Use resistant varieties like CO 975, COJ 46 and CO 7304. Select pest free setts for planting. Collect and destroy the eggs periodically. Detrash the crop on 150th and 210th day of planting.

3. Top borer:

Caterpillars are mainly found in the apical portion of the canes. boring through the growing point and done the upper joints until it reaches the sappy portion of the stem, there it feeds on the tissues and destroys the cane. They also bore into unfolded leaves preferably into the midrib, mining its way to the base. Dead heart arises on after sixth month grown up cane, which cannot be easily pulled. But at later stages when development take place its attack become limited to the top portion of the sugarcane plants which causing a characteristics symptom known as bunchy top.

Management: The egg masses and also the infested portions of plants may be collected and destroyed during the brood emergence period. Variety Co 419 is comparatively resistant to this borer. Other resistant varieties are CoS 767, CoJ 67 and Co 1158. Soil application of carbofuran at 2 kg a.i. /ha or phorate at 1 kg a.i./ha for the third brood during first week of July is recommended.

4. Root borer:

Adult larvae are milky white. They are called root plants, but they do not eat roots, they drill holes in the root surface. Only the underground part of the trunk is attacked by pests. Boring attacks mostly occur on young sugarcane plants, causing total loss of crop and serious damage in the first week of September.

Management: Release of egg parasitoid, Trichogramma chilonis @ 50, 000/ha at 10 days interval. Collection and destruction of moths using light traps also minimizes perpetuation ofthe borer. In cases of severe infestation, fields should be ploughed up and affected stubbles with larvae should be collected and destroyed.

5. Sugarcane leaf hopper:

Raise adults and nymphs by sucking cell juice from the bottom of sugarcane leaves. With the continuous removal of hair in various containers, the upper leaves of the affected stems dry out and the side shoots begin to bloom. The container releases a sticky liquid known as honey dew. Promotes fast and rich growth of the sponge, therefore it is completely covered with fungal leaves. This affects plant photosynthesis and plant growth.

Management: spray 400 ml malathion 50 EC in 400 L water per acre when leaf hopper attack in april to june. At july- november leaf hopper becomes destructive due to changing in environment. But at that mean time egg parasitoid also present in the field. These egg parasitoid to grow inner side of the leafhopper egg. Due to this egg colour become brown, pink or black and they control itself. If these are not controlled by parasitoid than spray with 400-600 ml Malathion 50 EC in 400- 600 L water per acre.

6. Sugarcane woolly Aphids:

woolly aphid desaps the plants colonizing the underside of leaves (Fig. 37). The attack generally begins in the middle leaves and extends to upper leaves. Within a leaf, colonies appear in the middle portion and extend to both ends. As the aphids grow and reach later instars, their body is covered with white waxy filaments giving the appearance of a white waxy coating to the infested leaves

Management: use aphid resistant varieties. Setts shoulde be dipped in malathion(0.1%) or dimetheoate(0.08%) for 15 mins before planting. Intercropping with suitable crop is preferred to reduce pest spread.

7. Nematodes:

Nematodes are filiform animals that are invisible to the naked eye, attack sugarcane, cause discoloration of the roots, cause infectious diseases, infect viruses, grow, produce giant cells and reduce the amount of nutrients. , In severe cases, nematodes cause growth disorders, yellowing and subsequent death of infected plants. Mainly it causes distinctive swellings called galls on the roots of infectected plants.

Management: use resistant varieties. Avoid ploughing or replanting where possible because nematode infects in the newly grown plant. Include a legume rotation in your crop cycle. The nematicides like choloropicrin, methyl bromide can be used for the control of nematode in sugarcane.

8. Scale Insects:

High temperature and high humidity contribute to the accumulation of Scale insects. Seeds are the way of spreading them into new areas. When large colonies of different stages desap the cane, the crop losses general vigor, shrivels up and exhibits stunted growth with reduction in internodal length. Consequently, cane yield, percentage of juice extraction, juice quality and jaggery production suffer reduction.

Management: prevention of waterlogging reduces humudity and helps minimize sacle populations. Soaking setts in malathion 0.1% for 15 minutes is important when seed material is lifted to new or pest-free areas. Wide-row spacing, wrapping and propping, and detrashing help maintain crop hygiene and facilitate insecticide application in endemic areas. Application of malathion 50 EC at 0.1% or dimethoate 30 EC at 0.1% or acephate 75% SP at 0.15%; detrashing before spray application would enhance the effectiveness of insecticide.

9. Termites:

The termites incident setts, shoots, canes and stubbles. The termites collect submission through the graze split ends or through buds of the setts and give to eat on the silky tissue. The tunnel excavated is filled with the soil. This affects germination and thus the initial crop stand and ultimately the cane yield. The germination collapse can be up to 60%.

Management: Ploughing or exposing the field would desroy the colonies of subterranean termites. Apply well rotten farm yard manure. At the time of sowing, the setts are treated with 2.5 l choloropyriphos 20EC in 600-1000L water spray on the furrow with the help of knapsack sprayer.

10. Whitefly:

Waterlogging and nitrogen malnourishment source plain eruption of whiteflies. Varieties with broad and lengthy foliage are new susceptible to this pest. The nymphs of white flies suck the sap away from the under rise of foliage which results in color changes like yellow and pinkish and in serious case it results in drying of the leaves. Arduous infected trees are roofed by the dirty mould caused by the fungus, which adversely affects photosynthesis. The whitefly plague reduces the sugar content in canes.

Management: Whitefly proliferates in water stress so proper water management of crop to avoid extrems of dry conditions or water logging should be followed. Detrashing and destruction of leaves can be done. Use 800ml of malathion 50 EC or methyl demeton 25 EC (Metasystox) or 600 ml dimethoate 30 EC for spray in 400 ml water per acre. In this solution use 10 Kg urea for spray due to this leaves become green frequently.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION:

The sugarcane is a very important crop in nepal for the production of sugar. Sugarcane is used for production of sugar and other by products like juice, bagasse, fuel production, syrup, white sugar and jaggery. The sugarcane is sensitive towards the insects pest which decreases the cane yield. Many physical, chemical, biological and cultural methods of management have been practiced by growers. However, chemical method are quickly to manage the pest but it is harmful for the environent as well as human life. So, growers mainly followed the detrashing, removing the infected parts, frequent irrigation, avoid overcrowding. Biological control through trap is best to control some of the pests. The resistant varieties should be used to mangae the insects pests and increase the productivity of crops.

In future, such steps should be taken by the government/non-government organizations to aware people about diseases of sugarcane due to pests and how they can be avoided from this problem. Researchers should find out more reliable methods to control these pests biologically to save the crops.

REFERENCE:

• Vikaspedia/Sugarcane: Insect and Mite Pests Management
• ResearchGate/Pests of Sugarcane
• ResearchGate/Insect Pests of Sugarcane and Their Management
• ResearchGate/Sugarcane Pests and Their Management
• Eagri/Pests of Sugarcane
• Agriexam/Sugarcane Insect Pest and Their Management

Writer: Anisha Gyawali (College: Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Gauradaha, Jhapa)