Impacts of Crop Residue on Damage by Sugarcane Pests during the Tillering Phase in Argentina

One of the most important recent changes in sugarcane cultural practices in Tucumán, Argentina, is the adoption of the practice of green-cane harvesting, which involves harvesting the sugarcane crop in the absence of burning. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of the post-harvest crop residue (also sometimes known as "trash blanket") on Elasmopalpus lignosellus (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and Pseudaletia unipuncta Haworth (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) population dynamics in sugarcane. The study was conducted in ratoon crops for 3 growing seasons (2011, 2012, and 2013) and at 3 locations in the state of Tucumán, Argentina. The treatments consisted of rows with the crop residue burned and the crop residue retained. Removal of the crop residue by burning, compared with retention, resulted in significantly greater crop damage by E. lignosellus in all locations and years. In contrast, damage by P. unipuncta was observed exclusively on plots where crop residue was retained. Comparing the pest status of 2 insects, E. lignosellus seems to be more consistently deleterious to sugarcane yield than P. unipuncta, and chemical control of this species is not very effective. Therefore, leaving the crop residue in place seems to be the most appropriate crop management approach, although it is important also to monitor P. unipuncta populations in order to implement control should it be necessary.Fil: Isas, Marcos Gerardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucuman. Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Perez, Maria Lucia del Pilar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucuman. Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Salvatore, Analia. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Gastaminza, Gerardo. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Willink, Eduardo. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: White, William. United States Department of Agriculture. Agriculture Research Service; Estados Unido

Trichogramma (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) Species, Egg Parasitoids of Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) on Sugarcane (Poales: Poaceae) in Argentina

The aim of this study was to identify egg parasitoids of Diatrea saccharalis F., sensu Guenée (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in sugarcane in Tucumán, Argentina. We report a new host-parasitoid association of Trichogramma atopovirilia Oatman & Platner (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) attacking D. saccharalis and the first record of Trichogramma galloi Zucchi from Argentina. Additionally, Trichogramma pretiosum Riley was recorded in this survey.Fil: Isas, Marcos Gerardo. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucuman. Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Luft Albarracin, Erica Beatriz. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucuman. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiologicos; ArgentinaFil: Perez, Maria Lucia del Pilar. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucuman. Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Salvatore, Analía. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; Argentin

Acrotomopus atropunctellus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) preference for large sugarcane shoots mitigates damage to sugarcane crop

The sugarcane weevil, Acrotomopus atropunctellus (Boheman) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is an increasingly important sugarcane pest in Argentina. Its emergence period overlaps with early stages of sugarcane phenology. This research assessed the preference of A. atropunctellus for shoot size and the effect of damage on shoot survival. Acrotomopus atropunctellus preferred to feed on large- and mediumsized shoots, regardless of sex. However, older plants were resistant to injury. Also, the number of punctures produced by females was 1.6 times greater than that produced by males. Avoiding late planting or harvest dates could be a useful tactic for mitigating A. atropunctellus incidence in sugarcane crops.El picudo de la caña de azúcar, Acrotomopus atropunctellus (Boheman) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) es una plaga de la caña de azúcar cada vez más importante en Argentina. El periodo de emergencia de los adultos de A. atropunctellus coincide con estados fenológicos tempranos de la caña de azúcar (macollaje y gran crecimiento). El objetivo de este trabajo fue conocer la preferencia de alimentación de A. atropunctellus según distintos tamaños de brotes de caña de azúcar y el efecto del daño sobre la sobrevivencia de los brotes. Acrotomopus atropunctellus prefirió alimentarse de brotes medianos y grandes y la preferencia no varió según el sexo. Sin embargo, las plantas más viejas fueron resistentes al daño. Además, el número de perforaciones producidas por las hembras fue 1.6 veces mayor que las producidas por los machos. Evitar fechas de siembra y cosechas tardías puede contribuir a la reducción de incidenciade A. Atropunctellus en los cultivos de caña de azúcar.EEA ManfrediFil: Perez, Maria Lucia del Pilar. Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino; Argentina. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Isas, Marcos Gerardo. Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino; Argentina. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Salvatore, Analia Ruth. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: García, José María. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Trumper, Eduardo Victor. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Manfredi; Argentin

Optimizing a fixed-precision sequential sampling plan for adult Acrotomopus atropunctellus (Boheman) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), new pest on sugarcane

Sugarcane weevil borer, Acrotomopus atropunctellus (Boheman) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) has been detected across all sugarcane planting areas in the Argentinian Northwest with increasing population densities. The monitoring for its occurrence and the population density usually is made by visual inspection and consequently demands much effort and time. The objectives of this study were 1) to describe the sampling distribution pattern of A. atropunctellus adults 2) to develop and validate a fixed-precision sequential sampling plan for density estimation, and 3) to find the optimum inspection time for each sampling unit. On-farm data collection was performed at sugarcane fields located in Ranchillos (Tucumán, Argentina) during 2011–2012 to 2013–2014 sugarcane growing seasons. Thirty sampling units consisting on one meter of sugarcane furrow were randomly selected at 1-wk intervals. Within each sampling unit, weevils were counted and recorded independently for five increasing examination time per sampling unit (ETSU) (2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 min). For each ETSU, the sampling distribution pattern was assessed by Taylor's power law (TPL). The average sample number (ASN) and sampling stop lines were calculated according to Green's sequential sampling model, based on TPL estimated parameters, for fixed precision levels, C = 0.1 and C = 0.25. The resampling for validation of sample plans (RVSP) program was used to evaluate the performance of the different sampling plans. Parameters a and b from TPL regressions did not vary significantly between different ETSUs. All estimates of b coefficients were significantly >1 which can indicate an aggregated sampling distribution pattern. For each precision level, Green's sequential plans predicted very similar ASN between ETSU. This was confirmed through the validation process, with the five sampling protocols providing very similar mean sample sizes and mean precision levels. Variability of these parameters from validation results did not vary significantly among the different ETSUs. The relative net precision was the only performance parameter that varied with the ETSU, with the shortest ETSU resulting in the most efficient sampling plan. We conclude that A. atropunctellus has an aggregated sampling distribution and that the fixed precision sequential sampling plan developed using Green's model and based on a two-minute inspection of the sampling unit is the most convenient choice for estimating its population density in sugarcane. Our analysis of the ETSU effect on the performance of sugarcane weevil sampling protocols could contribute to develop more efficient monitoring plans for other arthropods.EEA ManfrediFil: Perez, Maria Lucia del Pilar. Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino; Argentina. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Isas, Marcos Gerardo. Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino; Argentina. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Salvatore, Analia Ruth. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Gastaminza, Gerardo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Trumper, Eduardo Victor. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Manfredi; Argentin

Green Cane Harvest Effect on Pseudaletia unipuncta (Haworth) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Larvae Abundance and Losses Caused by This Pest in Tucumán, Argentina

From 2010 to 2012 harvest seasons, studies of the armyworm Pseudaletia unipuncta were conducted in sugarcane in Tucumán. The larvae are nocturnal and during the day remain hidden under the crop residues or in the soil. Damage begins in spring when temperature rises. They produce damage by feeding and killing the shoots, delaying the growth of the new shoots in the cane field. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of agricultural residues of sugarcane green harvest on larval abundance and the losses caused by this armyworm. Trials were conducted at three locations. Twelve points of 2 m row length were evaluated every 15 days from September to November. The number of larvae and percentage of affected shoots were evaluated. When the attack of P. unipuncta began in September, a plot of 1 ha was sprayed with pesticides, and another plot was left with harvest residues and the pest. Five samples of 10 stalks were extracted per plot. Factory parameters (pol, brix) were evaluated in the lab. Localities averaged shoot losses between 13 and 30 %. The average relative abundance of larvae in the plots with harvest residues was 0.5 larvae per 2 m row; no larvae were found in plots without residues. Factory sugar yield was 10.7 % in the plot without insecticidal control and 12 % in the treated plot, with a total sugar loss of 23.2 % per ha. To prevent losses caused by this species, it is important to sample early green cane harvested fields in spring.Fil: Salvatore, A. R.. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Isas, Marcos Gerardo. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Perez, Maria Lucia del Pilar. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Zossi, Bruno Santiago. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Willink, Eduardo. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Gastaminza, Gerardo Alfredo. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; Argentin

Picudo perforador de la caña de azúcar

L as hembras colocan los huevos en perforaciones que realizan con la mandíbulas en las porciones basal y media de los brotes. Las larvas se alimentan en el interior de los brotes y los tallos, formando galerías. Al acercarse el periodo invernal, estas se trasladan hacia la cepa a través de la galería donde pasan el invierno y se convierten en pupa. Los adultos emergen desde noviembre y pueden encontrarse hasta principios de abril.Fil: Perez, Maria Lucia del Pilar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino. Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial ; ArgentinaFil: Isas, Marcos Gerardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino. Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial ; ArgentinaFil: Salvatore, Analía R.. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Trumper, Eduardo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Pérez. Diego O.. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Gastaminza, Gerardo Alfredo. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; Argentin

Acrotomopus atropunctellus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Preference for Large Sugarcane Shoots Mitigates Damage to Sugarcane Crop

The sugarcane weevil, Acrotomopus atropunctellus (Boheman) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is an increasingly important sugarcane pest in Argentina. Its emergence period overlaps with early stages of sugarcane phenology. This research assessed the preference of A. atropunctellus for shoot size and the effect of damage on shoot survival. Acrotomopus atropunctellus preferred to feed on large- and mediumsized shoots, regardless of sex. However, older plants were resistant to injury. Also, the number of punctures produced by females was 1.6 times greater than that produced by males. Avoiding late planting or harvest dates could be a useful tactic for mitigating A. atropunctellus incidence in sugarcane crops.Fil: Pérez, María L. Del P.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino. Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial "Obispo Colombres" (p). Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Isas, Marcos Gerardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino. Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial "Obispo Colombres" (p). Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Salvatore, Analía R.. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; ArgentinaFil: García, José M.. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Trumper, Eduardo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires; Argentin

Effect of crop residue management on damage by Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), its egg parasitoids and the ants associated with sugarcane

In the American continent, the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis (F.) is the main pest in sugarcane producing areas. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of crop residue management on damage by D. saccharalis, its egg parasitoids and the ants associated with sugarcane. The study was carried out during 2011–2012, 2012–2013 and 2013–2014 crop cycles, in three commercial fields located in different regions of Tucumán state, Argentina. Two types of crop residue management (= treatments) were compared: conservation of trash at the soil surface (CT) and trash burning (TB). In ‘trash conservation’ treatment, crop residue was allowed to remain over the soil surface during the whole sugarcane growing season, while the second treatment consisted of complete burning of trash blanket approximately 2 weeks after harvest. The injury level was measured by recording the number of stalks bored and internodes bored. Parasitism was estimated by counting the total number of eggs and number of black eggs (which indicates the occurrence of egg parasitoids). Ants (Formicidae) richness was calculated by two estimators; abundance-based coverage estimator and incidence-based coverage estimator, using the non-parametric richness estimators: Chao 2 and Jackknife. Finally, the indicator value was estimated through the measurement of specificity and fidelity. In all the parameters studied no significant difference was found between TB and CT treatments.Fil: Perez, Maria Lucia del Pilar. Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial "Obispo Colombres". Sección de Zoología Agrícola; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino. Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial "Obispo Colombres" (p). Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Isas, Marcos Gerardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino. Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial "Obispo Colombres" (p). Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino; Argentina. Bulacio Argenti SA; ArgentinaFil: Goebel, Francois R.. Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développerment; FranciaFil: Ayup, María Marta. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional; ArgentinaFil: Padilla, Agustín Eugenio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino. Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial "Obispo Colombres" (p). Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Salvatore, Analía Ruth. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Facultad de Agronomia y Zootecnia. Cátedra de Zootecnia General I; ArgentinaFil: Gastaminza, Gerardo Alfredo. Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial "Obispo Colombres". Sección de Zoología Agrícola; Argentin