Foliar application of entomopathogenic nematodes (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae) for the control of Diatraea saccharalis in greenhouse

Abstract

The sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis, makes tunnels in the cane stalk, causing weight loss, as well as bud death, impairing germination. The weakened stalks are also more prone to breakage by wind, and in young plants the inner whorl of the leaves can die, resulting in a condition known as "dead heart". Chemical control is used, but with low efficiency. This work was designed to test biological control of D. saccharalis using entomopathogenic nematodes (NEPs). Two trials in the greenhouse were performed using Heterohabditis baujard LPP7 and Steinernema carpocapse NCAll by foliar application associated with adjuvants. In the first assay, the number of holes per stalk was 3.4 for the control without nematodes and with Joint* Oil; 3.14 for the control without nematodes and with Gotafix®; 2.44 for S. carpocapsae NCAll + Joint* Oil; 2.06 for H. baujardi LPP7 + Gotafix® and also for S. carpocapsae NCAll + Gotafix®; and 1.84 for H. baujardi LPP7 + Joint* Oil. In the second assay, the treatments showed an average of 4.78 holes per stalk for the control without nematodes and with Gotafix®; 4.76 for the control without nematodes and with Joint* Oil; 2.18 for S. carpocapsae NCAll + Joint* Oil and for S. carpocapsae NCAll + Gotafix®; 1.96 for H. baujardi LPP7 + Gotafix®; and 1.90 for H. baujardi LPP7 + Joint* Oil. In the two experiments, the treatments with and without the EPNs differed significantly, but there was no difference between the adjuvants or between the two EPN species. Key words: Biological control, sugarcane borer, NEPs, Saccharum officinarum ResumoA broca-da-cana, Diatraea saccharalis, causa danos à cana-de-açúcar devido ao seu hábito de formar galerias nos colmos, o que acarreta em perda do peso do produto, redução da sacarose e a seca dos ponteiros. O controle químico é utilizado, porém, com baixa eficiência, pois a larva permanece maior parte do tempo de seu desenvolvimento dentro dos colmos. Este trabalho teve como objetivo testar o controle biológico da D. saccharalis, utilizando-se nematóides entomopatogênicos (NEPs). Para tanto, foram realizados dois ensaios em casa de vegetação utilizando-se Heterohabditis baujardi LPP7 e Steinernema carpocapse NcAll por pulverização foliar, associados a produtos adjuvantes. No primeiro ensaio, o número médio de furos causados pela broca-da-cana, nas testemunhas Joint* Oil e Gotafix® foram de 3,4 e 3,14 respectivamente. Já quanto aos tratamentos, o número de furos por colmo analisado foi de 2,44 para S. carpocapsae NCAll + Joint* Oil; 2,06 para H. baujardi LPP7 + Gotafix®; 2,06 para S. carpocapsae NCAll + Gotafix®; e 1,84 para H. baujardi LPP7 + Joint* Oil. Quando o experimento

Entomopathogenic Nematode Application Technology

“…On the other hand, when the adjuvants Joint ® oil and Gotafix ® (Fig. 9.3) were tested in combination with EPNs against D. saccharalis, no difference was detected compared with a no-adjuvant control (Bellini & Dolinski, 2012).…”

Efficacy of commercial formulations of entomopathogenic nematodes against tropical sod webworm, Herpetogramma phaeopteralis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

“…() reported that IJ penetration rates of Ostrinia nubilalis Hübner were significantly higher for S. carpocapsae and S. feltiae compared with H. bacteriophora HP88 and NJ strains. More recently, Bellini and Dolinski () reported that foliar applications of H. baujard LPP7 and S. carpocapsae all on sugarcane stalks were equally effective at controlling the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis F.…”

Studies on entomopathogenic nematodes in Brazil: past and future

“…In a field experiment with leaf application of different strains, with or without addition of adjuvants, Negrisoli et al [93] observed that H. bacteriophora RS107 + adjuvant (sorbitol) was the most effective treatment against Bonagota salubricola (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), an important apple tree pest. Bellini & Dolinski [26] also reported the potential of leaf application of EPNs to control the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae).…”