Journal of Sugarcane Research (Aug 2023)

A reappraisal of internode borer (Chilo sacchariphagus indicus) impact on sugarcane

  • J Srikanth,
  • N Geetha,
  • M. Punithavalli,
  • P. Mahesh,
  • L. Saravanan,
  • B. Singaravelu,
  • K P Salin,
  • C. Yogambal

DOI
https://doi.org/10.37580/JSR.2022.3.12.92-102
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 1

Abstract

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Damage due to internode borer Chilo sacchariphagus indicus (Kapur) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in sugarcane (cv Co 86032) was assessed at harvest in three crop seasons (2019-2022). Attacked canes were segregated into seven infestation categories based on single or multiple bore holes in top, middle and/or bottom portions. For each infested cane, number of internodes, number of bored internodes, cane length, cane diameter and cane weight were recorded and compared among infestation categories by ANOVA. In an independent sample of 6-month old attacked canes, length and diameter of attacked internodes and unattacked top and bottom internodes were recorded. The data were subjected to factorial analysis for growth parameters with internode position and borer status as two factors. Further, growth parameters of infested and healthy cane segments were compared using Student's t-test.Results of three-season field data indicated that percent of contribution of sample canes with multiple bore holes was generally lower than that of canes with single holes. Percent of intensity was significantly higher in canes with multiple bore holes than in canes with single bore hole. Internode number, cane diameter, cane length and cane weight did not differ among different categories of infested and uninfested canes. Per cent of intensity was generally not related to growth and yield parameters. Further, growth parameters such as length, diameter, surface area and volume of internodes, and weight, weight/unit area and weight/unit volume of cane segments were lower in affected canes than those in healthy canes. Borer attacked internodes became shorter and thinner than the lower unaffected internodes but the internodes forming above the affected ones showed recovery in length and diameter. The results of the study are discussed in relation to earlier published work and some future requirements are projected.

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