Efficacy of chlorantraniliprole applied in sugarcane planting furrow and foliar spray to control of sugarcane borer

Abstract

Sugarcane borer (Diatraea saccharalis) is one of the most important insect pests in sugarcane crops in Brazil. Historically, this insect has been controlled with releases of parasitoid Cotesia flavipes. However, chemical control with diamides and insect growth regulators has been used to help in control of this pest. In this study, the effec­tiveness of the diamide chlorantraniliprole applied in the sugarcane planting furrow and foliar spray on sugarcane borer damage and production were assessed. The experiment was carried out in an experimental area of SP80-3280 sugarcane variety, planted in November 2016 in Uberaba (Brazil), followed a randomized block design with four treatments: control, chlorantraniliprole foliar (21 g ha^‒1), chlorantraniliprole furrow (105 g ha^‒1), and chloran­traniliprole furrow (105 g ha^‒1) + foliar (21 g ha^‒1), with five replicates (plots). Each experimental plot had six planting lines of 10 m long spaced 1.5 m (90 m²). One chlorantraniliprole application in the planting furrow and foliar spray was performed in November 2016 and in March 2017, respectively. All plots were infested with D. saccharalis eggs in February and March 2017. In May 2017, the plant height, stalk diameter, and number of tillers were assessed. In October 2017, the mass of stalks, sugarcane borer holes, number and percentage of damaged internodes were evaluated. Chlorantraniliprole applied in the planting furrow did not reduce the damage caused by D. saccharalis. The spray of chlorantraniliprole reduced the damage of the sugarcane borer in about 52%. The chlorantraniliprole application did not affect the initial sugarcane development or its production. One chlorantranili­prole spray in sugarcane was not enough to avoid the D. saccharalis damage and other additional control meas­ures should be used.