Journal of Phytopathology and Pest Management 8(1): 64-70, 2021
pISSN: 2356-8577 eISSN: 2356-6507
Journal homepage: http://ppmj.net/
∗
Corresponding author:
Reda M. Saba,
E-mail: redasaba2020@gmail.com
64
Copyright © 2021
Evaluation of some safe alternative agents against
the pink stem borer,
Sesamia cretica
Lederer
infesting sugarcane at Sohag governorate, Egypt
Olwan A. M. Ali
1
, Shalby M. El-Awady
2
, Mohmmed K. Al-Ansare
2
, Reda M. Saba
1*
1
Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, Egypt
2
Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
Abstract
Keywords: sugarcane, Sesamia cretica, Trichogramma evanescens, Rosmarinus officinalis, roguing.
Some different control methods, mechanical, biological and four plant extracts
were tested individually against the pink stem borer, Sesamia critica Lederer
(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in both plant and ratoon crops of sugarcane during
2018 and 2019 at Sohag governorate, Egypt. Data were recorded on the basis of
the percent infestation (dead hearts) of S. critica from April to June, while the
infestation reduction percentage and population density were recorded based on
the percent of infestation. The results showed that, all the control methods
significantly reduced borer infestation as compared with control plots. Data
demonstrated that water extracts of marjoram and rosemary achieved the
lowest infestation (2.18 - 3.02%) and (1.42 – 2.00%), while the highest infestation
was recorded in biological control treatment (18.00 – 13.47%) in two seasons
2018 and 2019 respectively. These results could be used in integrated pest
management (IPM) programs for the pink stem borer, Sesamia critica control in
sugarcane.
Ali et al., 2021
65
1. Introduction
Sugarcane (
Saccharum officinarum
) is
the main field crop for white sugar
production in Egypt and about 69
countries in tropical and subtropical
regions of the world (Humbert, 1968).
The areas cultivated of sugarcane in
Egypt reached about 323 thousand
feddans and the total amount of sugar
production was about 15.82 million tons.
In Sohag governorate, about 13.5
thousand feddans (about 4.18%) while
the total amount of sugar was 600
thousand tons (3.8% at 2018). The
commercial variety Giza - Taiwan 9-54
(Q9) grows more than 95% of the
cultivated area (Sugar Crop Board
Annual Report, 2019). About 103 insects
are related with sugarcane crop
(kumarasinghe, 1999). Various insect
pests like borer stem, termites, pyrilla,
whitefly, bugs, insect scale and mealy etc.
attack this crop and cause heavy losses in
terms of low yield and quality. Without
some effective measures, the crop cannot
be protected from the ravages of insect
pests specially borers. According to
Gupta and Singh (1997), damage due to
3
rd
and 4
th
brood of sugarcane borers may
result more than 25% reduction in weight.
Sugarcane is severity attacked by the pink
borer (PB),
S. cretica
which threat
sugarcane grown in upper and middle
Egypt. It has been historically categorized
as a shoot borer which enters shoots at
ground level, eat young tissues and
destroy the growing point, thereby,
causing the formation of characteristic
''dead hearts'' (Fahmy, 2017). Irshad and
Shah (1982) studied the mechanical
control of
Acigona stenieltus
H. in
sugarcane and they recommended that
roguing and cutting for controlling it.
Sardana (2000) studied the integrated
management of sugarcane root borer
Emmalocera depressella S. and found
that, different techniques like release of
Trichogramma chilonis
effectively
managed root borer in sugarcane. Saroj
and Jaipal (2000) applied mechanical
control removal of borers infested
sugarcane plants, roguing and release of
parasitoid in sugarcane fields and
recommended that, commutative applied
of these techniques significantly reduced
borers damage and increased cane yield.
Mechanical methods (Handpicking from
plants) involve motion and force such as
trapping or crushing insects by hand,
tool, or machine. Tillage by plow and
harrow is a cultural control practice, but
insects die from mechanical crushing
(Heinrichs, 1994).
Manual methods of
controlling the insects are among the
oldest and most labor intensive but these
methods decline in usage as labor costs
rise and less expensive alternative
methods become available. The
biological and ecological knowledge of
pest helps to determine the most
appropriate procedure/method (How),
timing (when) and place (where) for
effective use of any technology and
economically effective management of
any pest (Buurma, 2008). The use of
natural products from plant origin is a
new trend as certain plant families are
rich sources of natural substances that
could be utilized in the development of
alternative safe methods for pest control
(Wheeler and Isman, 2001). The
deleterious effects of plant extracts on
insects are manifested in several ways
including, growth retardation, feeding
inhibition, oviposition deterrence and
reduction of fecundity and fertility
(Sadek, 2003). El-Hefny (2011)
stated
that,
plant extracts – derived from the
leaves of two plants sweat marjoran and
rosemary were applied in the maize field
during the early summer plantation, for
controlling the pink stem borer
S. cretica
.
Keeping in view the importance of pink
sugarcane borer, this experiment was
carried out to study the effect of some
Ali et al., 2021
66
different safe alternative control methods
on sugarcane borer,
S. cretica
in both
sugarcane plant and ratoon crops.
2. Materials and methods
The experiment was conducted at Sohag
governorate, Upper Egypt on both plant
and ratoon crops of sugarcane. Variety
Giza-Taiwan (G.T. 54-9) was sown in
February as plant crop during 2018 and
the date of harvesting the planting cane
was considered as the beginning of the
first ratoon crop during March 2019. The
experiment comprised of seven
treatments including control was laid out
in randomized complete block design
having three replications. Plot size was
maintained as 9 × 5 m
2
. The experiment
was repeated twice for confirmation of
the results. Different control methods
were applied in both plant and ratoon
crops.
2.1 Mechanical Control
Plants infested by pink stem borer (dead
hearts) were rouged from April to June
once a month in both two seasons 2018
and 2019.
2.2 Biological control
In these plots, parasite
Trichogramma
evanescens
was released @ 30000
parasitized pupae / feddans pasted on
carton cards were applied from April to
June one time per month during the first
and second seasons. This parasitoid was
cultured on eggs of
Sitotroga cereallela
in the laboratory at the mass rearing unit
of
Trichogramma
, Plant Protection
Research Institute (PPRI), in Assuit. as
per required procedure.
2.3 Plant extracts
Two plant species were chosen in the
present investigation,
Majorana
hortensis
M. and
Rosmarinus officinalis
L. both of them are belonging to family
labiatae, were obtained from local
market. The plants were extracted in the
laboratory. Plants were washed by water
and dried in laboratory by electric fan,
then grained in a high-speed blender.
Extracts prepared in the laboratory by
water or acetone at ratio 1 gm. Powder: 3
cm
3
solvent and then filtered similar to
the mentioned method with Afifi et al
.
(1988). A volume of 50 cm
3
of water was
added to both of the filtrate extracted
similar to Emara et al. (1994). Plant
extracts were applied together three
times, the first time after month of
planting, the second time after two
months of planting, and the third time
was after three months of planting on
April, May and June in both two seasons
2018 and 2019. Dead hearts count
technique and evaluation percent
infestation, reduction and population
density were calculated according to the
following formulas:




(Maareg et al., 1993).

  


(Abott, 1925)
Population density = Number of dead harts
Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was
performed for the obtained data
according to test multiple groups by
Waller and Duncan (1969).
Ali et al., 2021
67
3. Results
and Discussion
Results in Table (1) showed significant
values in most treatments in two seasons
2018 and 2019 to infestation percentage
of
S. cretica
at 45, 60, 75, 90 and 105
days of plant age compared with control.
The minimum values of average
infestation percentage were recorded in
water extract of Marjoram
extracted
(1.25, 6.25, 2,92,0.83 and 0.00%) and
(1.00, 4.33, 0.67, 0.00 and 0.00%) in two
seasons 2018 and 2019, respectively,
while the maximum values of average
infestation percentage were recorded in
biological control treatment with (9.17,
23.75, 22.08, 15.83 and 7.50%) and
(7.67, 16.33, 15.00, 9.67 and 5.00%) in
two seasons 2018 and 2019, respectively
compared with control. Meanwhile, data
based on the general mean showed
different significantly in all treatments
with lowest infestation percent arranged
by following (T3, T5, T4, T6, T1, T2 and
T7) and (T3, T5, T6, T4, T1,
T2 and T7)
in two seasons 2018 and 2019,
respectively.
Table 1: Percent infestation of sugarcane stem borer, S. cretica in different control methods at Sohag
governorate, Egypt during 2018 and 2019.
Plant Crop (2018)
Plant age (Days)
Mean
60
(25 April)
75
(10 May)
90
(25 May)
105
(9 June)
Mechanical control (T1)
12.08bc
8.33c
5.00c
1.25b
6.17C
Biological control (T2)
23.75a
22.08b
15.83b
7.50a
15.67B
Marjoram water ex. (T3)
6.25c
2.92c
0.83c
0.00b
2.25E
Marjoram acetone ex. (T4)
9.17c
7.08c
2.92c
0.83b
4.42D
Rosemary water ex. (T5)
10.00bc
5.42c
0.83c
0.00b
3.67DE
Rosemary acetone ex. (T6)
15.42b
6.67c
1.67c
0.00b
5.17CD
Control (T7)
30.42a
36.25a
23.75a
8.33a
22.83A
Ratoon Crop (2019)
60
(3 May)
75
(18 May)
90
(2 June)
105
(17 June)
Mean
Mechanical control (T1)
5.67c
2.67c
2.67b
0.67b
2.80C
Biological control (T2)
16.33b
15.00b
9.67a
5.00a
10.73B
Marjoram water ex. (T3)
4.33c
0.67c
0.00b
0.00b
1.20D
Marjoram acetone ex. (T4)
6.67c
4.67c
1.00b
0.00b
2.67C
Rosemary water ex. (T5)
5.33c
2.67c
0.67b
0.00b
1.93CD
Rosemary acetone ex. (T6)
6.67c
4.33c
0.00b
0.00b
2.53C
Control (T7)
21.67a
25.67a
13.00a
5.67a
14.87A
In columns having same letters are non-significant at α = 0.05.
According to data presented in Table (2)
reefed average infestation reduction
percentage of
S. cretica
during 2018 and
2019 seasons, data showed that the
highest value of infestation reduction was
recorded at Marjoram water extract with
(91.96 and 93.08%) in two seasons 2018
and 2019, respectively. The lowest value
of infestation reduction was recorded in
Biological agent with (28.97 and
22.32%) in two seasons 2018 and 2019,
respectively. Moreover, the highest
infestation reduction (100%) based on
plant age at 105 days in 2018 was (T3,
T5 and T6), while in 2019 was (T3 and
T6) at 90 days and (T3, T4, T5 and T6)
at 105 days. The lowest infestation
reduction (10.00%) was recorded in T2
Ali et al., 2021
68
at 105 days from plant age in 2018, while
in 2019 the lowest infestation reduction
was (8.00%) at 45 days from plant age in
T2.
Table 2: Percent reduction of dead hearts by S. cretica in different control methods on sugarcane at
Sohag governorate, Egypt during 2018 and 2019.
Plant Crop (2018)
Plant age (Days)
Mean
75
(10 May)
90
(25 May)
105
(9 June)
Mechanical control (T1)
77.01
78.95
85.00
74.84
Biological control (T2)
39.08
33.33
10.00
28.97
Marjoram water ex. (T3)
91.95
96.49
100.00
91.96
Marjoram acetone ex. (T4)
80.46
87.72
90.00
82.91
Rosemary water ex. (T5)
85.06
96.49
100.00
87.03
Rosemary acetone ex. (T6)
81.61
92.98
100.00
82.08
Control (T7)
0
0
0
0
Ratoon Crop (2019)
75
(18 May)
90
(2 June)
105
(17 June)
Mean
Mechanical control (T1)
89.61
79.49
88.24
80.64
Biological control (T2)
41.56
25.64
11.76
22.32
Marjoram water ex. (T3)
97.40
100.00
100.00
93.08
Marjoram acetone ex. (T4)
81.82
92.31
100.00
86.27
Rosemary water ex. (T5)
89.61
94.87
100.00
89.57
Rosemary acetone ex. (T6)
83.12
100.00
100.00
86.47
Control (T7)
0
0
0
0
Table 3: Population density of S. cretica based on the number of dead hearts in different control methods
on sugarcane at Sohag governorate, Egypt during 2018 and 2019.
Plant Crop (2018)
Plant age (Days)
Mean
60
(25 April)
75
(10 May)
90
(25 May)
105
(9 June)
Mechanical control (T1)
9.67bc
6.67c
4.00c
1.00b
4.93C
Biological control (T2)
19.00a
17.67b
12.67b
6.00a
12.53B
Marjoram water ex. (T3)
5.00c
2.33c
0.67c
0.00b
1.80E
Marjoram acetone ex. (T4)
7.33bc
5.67c
2.33c
0.67b
3.53D
Rosemary water ex. (T5)
8.00bc
4.33c
0.67c
0.00b
2.93DE
Rosemary acetone ex. (T6)
12.33b
5.33c
1.33c
0.00b
4.13CD
Control (T7)
24.33a
29.00a
19.00a
6.67a
18.27A
Ratoon Crop (2019)
60
(3 May)
75
(18 May)
90
(2 June)
105
(17 June)
Mean
Mechanical control (T1)
5.67c
2.67c
2.67b
0.67b
2.80C
Biological control (T2)
16.33b
15.00b
9.67a
5.00a
10.73B
Marjoram water ex. (T3)
4.33c
0.67c
0.00b
0.00b
1.20D
Marjoram acetone ex. (T4)
6.67c
4.67c
1.00b
0.00b
2.67C
Rosemary water ex. (T5)
5.33c
2.67c
0.67b
0.00b
1.93CD
Rosemary acetone ex. (T6)
6.67c
4.33c
0.00b
0.00b
2.53C
Control (T7)
21.67a
25.67a
13.00a
5.67a
14.87A
In columns having same letters are non-significant at α = 0.05.
Data in Table (3) revealed that mean
population density of pink stem borer at
both plant and tillering stage was
significant in all treatments from (April
to June) during 2018 and 2019. The
highest population density was observed
Ali et al., 2021
69
in biological control treatment with
(19.00 and 16.33) in 25 April and 3 May
at 60 days from plant age in 2018 and
2019 respectively, while the lowest
population density 0.00 was recorded in
both marjoram and rosemary water
extracts and rosemary extracted in
acetone in 9 June at 105 days during
2018, also in 2019 the lowest value 0.00
was recorded in 2 June at 90 days and 17
June at 105 days. These findings are in
agreement with Gul et
al
.
(2008) who
found that mechanical control method
significantly reduced borer infestation in
sugarcane. Also, El-Hefny (2011),
concluded that the best effective plant
extracts for controlling the pink stem
borer
S. critica
was in both marjoram and
rosemary extracted in water and acetone.
Biological control method was
ineffective to reduce the pink stem borer
population this is due to the fact that it
did not reduce the level of economic
damage. In conclusion, tested plant
extracts and mechanical control showed
significant best control of pink stem
borer. Keeping in view the above study,
these control methods should be
disseminated among the growers to avoid
economic losses in sugar industry.
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