Interaction of the infestation of the Diatraea impersonatella, varieties, and different ages of sugarcane and their agroindustrial characteristics

ABSTRACT Diatraea impersonatella (Walker, 1863) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is a key pest of sugarcane in Northeastern Brazil, yet information on its relationship with plant age and varietal traits remains scarce. This study evaluated the interaction among D. impersonatella infestation, sugarcane varieties (RB 92-579, RB 04-1443, and RB 86-7515), and plant age (45, 70, 130, and 200 days after planting) on agroindustrial characteristics. The experiment was conducted under field conditions in six municipalities of Paraíba State, with 144 plots selected for uniform soil and planting conditions. Infestation levels were assessed through visual diagnosis of bored stalks, while agroindustrial analyses (BRIX, POL, PURITY, FIBER, ATR, and PBU) followed standardized methodologies. Data were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models, principal component analysis, and non-parametric bootstrap. All tested varieties were infested, with RB 92-579 showing the highest susceptibility, especially as plant age increased, and exhibiting elevated Brix, purity, and POL levels. Conversely, RB 86-7515 showed a decreasing trend in infestation with plant age, lower Brix, higher PBU and fiber content, and POL, purity, and fiber values similar to RB 04-1443 but lower than RB 92-579. This study concludes that RB 92-579 is the most susceptible to D. impersonatella, with infestation clearly related to plant age and varietal traits. These findings provide reliable field-based insights for improving integrated pest management strategies in Northeastern Brazil’s sugarcane cultivation.