COMPARATIVE POPULATION TRENDS OF SUGARCANE BORERS ON DIFFERENT COMMERCIALLY GROWN SUGARCANE VARIETIES AT DISTRICT JHANG, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Sugarcane borers are devastating pests of sugarcane crop and often cause economic damage. The study was conducted in five different locations of district Jhang during 2012 aiming to evaluate some commercially grown sugarcane varieties (CP-77-400, NSG-59, SPF-213, HSF-240 and SPF-234) towards different sugarcane borer species in terms of field infestation levels, spatial distribution and their impact on brix percentage. There was no significant difference in populations of top borer (Scirpophaga nivella) among the five sugarcane varieties. The highest abundance of stem borers (Chilo infuscatellus) was recorded in NGS-59 while it was the lowest in HSF-240 and SPF-234. Gurdaspur borer (Acigona steniella) was the highest in abundance in CP-77-400. The maximum number of root borer (Emmalocera depressella) was recorded in CP-77-400 and NGS-59 and the minimum in HSF-240. The mean borer population was also the maximum in CP-77-400 and NGS-59 while it was the minimum in HSF-240 and SPF-234. The brix percentage of CP-77-400, NGS-59 and HSF-240 was significantly reduced by borer infestation. Except top borer, the populations of all the three borer species were significantly distributed among the five locations. The variety SPF-234 proved most successful as it was least attacked by borers and its brix percentage was also least affected.