BioCane™ Granules
Biological Insecticide Containing metarhizium
for the Control of Greyback Canegrubs
The most serious economic pests to sugarcane are root feeding insects. In particular, the Greyback canegrub (Dermolepida albohirtum) causes the most significant reduction in sugarcane yields. The grub destroys the roots of the cane during feeding, starving the cane of moisture and nutrients. The net result is a reduction in the sugarcane’s ability to grow, greatly decreasing the yield potential. Symptoms of grub damage include yellowing of leaves; complete drying out of leaf tissues; or in severe cases death of the plant. The decimation of roots in well grown cane leave the plants with little support, often resulting in crop lodging or stool tipping.
In 2000, Becker Underwood’s BioCane™ gained approval with the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), being only the 2nd fungal-based pesticide registered in Australia against any pest.
BioCane™ is a granular formulation of Metarhizium anisopliae FI-1045. Metarhizium anisopliae is a soil inhabiting fungus frequently found in nature, and is a pathogen to a range of insect species, particularly canegrubs. It has a simple lifecycle, remaining dormant as spores in the soil until contact with the Greyback canegrub cuticle (skin). A germ tube forms and penetrates through the insect cuticle. The fungus reproduces to such an extent that it kills the insect. The fungal hyphae then grow out of the insect, producing a mass (chains) of new infectious green spores.
It is recommended that BioCane™ be used as part of an overall integrated pest management (IPM) program to reduce the damage caused by greyback canegrubs. Adding BioCane™ into an IPM program will result in a financial benefit, improved cane growth in subsequent ratoons, reduced cost associated to replanting cane damaged by greyback canegrub, and reduced mill costs from processing cane with low sugar and high extraneous matter from canegrub damaged fields.
