BioCane™ Granules contain a naturally occurring fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae (isolate FI-1045) which is active as a biological control of the sugarcane pest, greyback canegrub (Dermolepida albohirtum). The product is formulated as spores on a grain substrate.
Greyback canegrubs destroy the roots of sugarcane which starves the cane of soil moisture and nutrients. In well-grown cane, grubs can cause crop lodging or stool tipping.
The application of BioCane™ into new plant cane has shown remarkable reduction in the number of greyback canegrubs in sugarcane crops and consistent increases in cane yield.
BioCane™ persists very well in soil which means sugarcane ratoon crops suffer less damage from greyback canegrubs.
Becker Underwood Pty Ltd has an exclusive licence to manufacture and market BioCane™ through the Cane Protection and Productivity Boards and the Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations in North Queensland.
