-The objective of this work was to evaluate the impacts of spittlebug (Mahanarva fimbriolata) attack on sugarcane quality and ethanol production. Technological and microbiological parameters of juice and fermentation process were evaluated in ten fermentation cycles and two harvest seasons. Treatments consisted of different spittlebug stalk damage levels: control, with 100% of apparently healthy stalks; medium, with 15% of damaged or dry stalks (DDS); high, with 30% of DDS; and very high, with 60% of DDS. Spittlebug attack caused significant losses in cane quality, reducing total soluble solids, sucrose content, total reducing sugars, and pH, and increasing total phenolic compounds, and total and volatile juice acidity. The fermentation process was also significantly affected, resulting in lower ethanol content in wine. There was an increase in acetaldehyde concentration in the distillate. The spittlebug attack caused negative impacts on sugarcane quality and fermentation process, and these impacts are stronger in late season harvests.Index terms: Mahanarva fimbriolata, Saccharum, cane quality, ethanolic fermentation, technological quality. Impacto da cigarrinha-das-raízes na qualidade da cana-de-açúcar e na produção de etanolResumo -O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o impacto do ataque da cigarrinha-das-raízes (Mahanarva fimbriolata) na qualidade da cana-de-açúcar e na produção de etanol. Os parâmetros tecnológicos e microbiológicos do caldo e do processo fermentativo foram avaliados em dez ciclos de fermentação e duas épocas de colheita. Os tratamentos consistiram de diferentes níveis de danos da cigarrinha nos colmos: testemunha, com 100% de colmos aparentemente sadios; médio, com 15% de dano ou colmos secos (DCS); alto, com 30% de DCS; e muito alto, com 60% de DCS. O ataque da praga causou significativa redução na qualidade da cana, ao diminuir teores de sólidos solúveis, teores de sacarose, açúcares redutores totais e pH, e aumentar os compostos fenólicos e a acidez total e volátil do caldo. O processo fermentativo também foi significativamente afetado, o que resultou em vinhos com menores teores alcoólicos. Houve aumento na concentração de acetaldeído no destilado. O ataque da cigarrinha-das-raízes causou impactos negativos na qualidade da cana-de-áçucar e no processo fermentativo, e esses impactos são maiores nas colheitas de final de temporada.Termos para indexação: Mahanarva fimbriolata, Saccharum, qualidade da cana, fermentação etanólica, qualidade tecnológica.

The quality of the raw material defines the industrial potential production. The harvest of raw sugarcane promoted a favorable environment for the increase of Mahanarva fimbriolata (Stål, 1854) pest that affects the plant development. This research was undertaken to evaluate the effects of M. fimbriolata on sugarcane quality and fermentation process. For the technological analysis, four damage levels and two evaluation periods were evaluated, while four fermentation cycles and two evaluation periods were tested for microbiological analysis, with three replications. The determined parameters were Brix (soluble solids), Pol (apparent sucrose), Purity, reducing sugars (RS), total reducing sugars (TRS), Total Acidity, pH and Total Phenolic Compounds in juice. In the fermentation process cellular viability analysis, yeast sprout and bacterial concentration were carried out. The wine was submitted to alcohol content, TRRS (total residual reducing sugars) and fermentation efficiency. The treatment with 60% of damage steams exhibited the lowest averages of Brix, Pol, Purity and TRS of the juice. An increase of the RS% of the juice and content of total phenolic compounds was observed. The cellular and sprouts viability were reduced with the increase in the damages caused by M. fimbriolata. The fermentation process exhibited larger quantities of contaminators. With the damages, the wine TRRS quantity was superior and, consequently there was a decrease of the alcoholic content and fermentation efficiency. The damages caused by M. fimbriolata affected the quality of the raw material, compromising the fermentative process, and increase the production of phenolic compounds and contaminators. Key words: Mahanarva fimbriolata infestation, Saccharum spp., ethanolic fermentation Danos promovidos por cigarrinha-das-raízes na qualidade da cana e processo fermentativo RESUMO: A qualidade da matéria-prima define o potencial de produção da indústria. A colheita de cana sem queima proporcionou um ambiente favorável ao aumento da infestação da Mahanarva fimbriolata (Stål, 1854), que suga a planta e afeta seu desenvolvimento. Avaliaram-se os danos promovidos pela M. fimbriolata na qualidade da cana e no processo fermentativo. Os tratamentos utilizados foram quatro níveis de danos e duas épocas de avaliações para as análises tecnológicas, e quatro níveis de danos, quatro ciclos fermentativos e duas épocas de avaliações para as análises microbiológicas com três repetições. Foram determinados Brix (sólidos solúveis), Pol (sacarose aparente), Pureza, açúcar redutor total (ART), açúcar redutor (AR), Acidez Total, pH, e teor de compostos fenólicos totais no caldo.