Management of termite in preserved setts of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) with microbes

An investigation was carried out during 2010–11 and 2011–12 using five microbes and an insecticidal check against termite in preserved setts of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) in Assam. Among the microbials, the setts treated with Metarhizium anisopliae @ 10¹² spore litre⁻¹ recorded lowest infestation of termite (21.25 and 19.06% and 22.62 and 23.59% as numbers and portions of setts attacked) with germination percentage of 67.86 and 67.81 during 2010–11 and 2011–12, respectively. The insecticidal check i.e. chlorpyriphos 20 EC @ 2 ml litre⁻¹ recorded least mean number (15.16 and 14.84%) and portion of setts (14.81 and 16.10%) infestation by termite coupled with a marked increase in per cent germination (78.02 and 76.82%). Experimental results further indicated very high level of infestation of termite in untreated control, which led to the poor germination of setts.