There is a strong concern about the environmental and social impacts ­­­of land use changes caused by sugarcane expansion. This research aims to assess the land use changes caused by sugarcane expansion in the State of São Paulo in the last five years, as well as predicting land use changes in the coming years. In addition, this research evaluates the social impacts of sugarcane expansion. The assessment of land use changes was made through GIS analysis. First, the changes during the last five years were evaluated. Based on this information, the land use changes for the coming years were estimated. The social impacts of sugarcane expansion were evaluated by studying the correlation between Human Development Index (HDI) and the sugarcane expansion. The results confirm that sugarcane crop expanded about 1.85 million hectares between 2003 and 2008. About 62% of this expansion replaced areas used for agricultural crop in 2003, and about 34% replaced areas used for pasture in 2003. Three scenarios were created in order to estimate sugarcane expansion in the coming years. In the first scenario, sugarcane would expand about 0.9 million hectares in three years; in the second scenario, 1.1 million hectares in four years; and in the third scenario, 1.4 million hectares in six years. In each scenario, about 70% of the expansion would take place in areas used for agricultural crops in 2003, and 40% in areas used for pasture in 2003. The sugarcane expansion caused a significant and positive impact on the income dimension of HDI for regions with a very low level of development. For regions of medium and high level of development, the HDI impact was not significant. In addition, a slightly negative impact on the longevity dimension of HDI was observed.

Grain sorghum is a drought tolerant crop used in the Mid-south region in rotation with corn, cotton, soybeans, and corn. In 2015 and 2016, research was conducted to determine the influence of insecticide treatment, planting date, planting population, hybrid, and environmental temperatures on sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner), populations and yield in grain sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. In general, cooler temperatures had a negative effect on sugarcane aphid control with sulfoxaflor and flupyradifurone. Additionally, there was a negative relationship between grain sorghum plant population and sugarcane aphid densities per plant. These data suggest management of sugarcane aphid with insecticide seed treatments and foliar sprays is critical for maximizing grain sorghum yields. Additionally, growers should wait for warmer temperatures to ensure optimum control.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(農学) / 甲第23939号 / 農博第2488号 / 新制||農||1089(附属図書館) / 学位論文||R4||N5374(農学部図書室) / 京都大学大学院農学研究科応用生命科学専攻 / (主査)教授 渡邊 隆司, 教授 梅澤 俊明, 教授 森 直樹 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Agricultural Science / Kyoto University / DGAM

Sweet sorghum produces more carbohydrates and more biomass per unit land area than com in the Eastern U. S. Piedmont. An equipment system for harvesting and processing whole-stalk sweet sorghum is being developed, with the expectation that sweet sorghum can be commercialized as an ethanol feedstock. A whole-stalk harvester was designed, constructed, and tested during the 1988 harvest season. The harvester captured a row of stalks between two counter rotating gathering belts, cut them at the base with a disk cutter (basecutter), and, at the rear of the machine, rotated the stalks 90° by capturing the stalk butts between to spring-loaded disks, called the stalk flipper. At a field speed of 6.7 km/h, the machine worked best when the flipper tangential velocity was 24 percent higher than the gathering belt Linear velocity, which was approximately (within six percent) equal to ground speed. The harvester was pulled behind a tractor and powered with a universal joint drive line. Two computer software packages, Computer-Graphic Augmented Design and Manufacturing (CADAM) and Integrated Mechanisms Program (IMP), were used to design the hitch and drive line. Calculated angular accelerations in the 3-joint drive line were excessive during a right or left turn; consequently a constant velocity joint was used at the tractor PTO. The hitch was designed with three position settings. With the hitch in the Field 1 position, the harvester was offset sufficiently to capture a row with the gathering belts. In the travel position, the harvester trailed behind the tractor within the 2.4 m legal road width. / Master of Science

Provisioning was a paramount concern for the success and survival of Barbados from the earliest days of English colonization. As the island embraced the sugar boom of the 1640s, planters chose to purchase overseas supplies over allocating land for growing suitable food crops. Inter-colonial planter-merchants created trade partnerships and exchange routes in the aftermath of the English Navigation Act of 1651 and the subsequent Restoration of the monarchy. This dissertation explores the extensive land ventures, the establishment of provisioning plantations by Barbadian migrants, as well as the merchant trade from 17th century New York and East New Jersey to the sugar island. It explains Barbadian planter’s adventure in acquiring and developing Shelter Island off Long Island Sound to produce and ship provisions to Barbados. The dissertation also outlines the Barbadian creation of ‘New Barbados’ in East New Jersey. The early 18th century saw the systematization of the English Merchant Shipping Reports. An assessment of the provisioning trade from Ports of New York and Perth Amboy to Barbados is the central focus for understanding the importance of regional merchant activity. The inter-colonial and inter-imperial trade from the New York area demonstrates the extensive provisioning and the diverse range of recipients for grown and harvested goods. Colonial New York and New Jersey were a region separate from New England and the Middle Colonies of Pennsylvania to Maryland. The goods shipped and transshipped from the New York region were the most diverse of colonial North America and were central to the success of the English West Indian sugar plantation system.

Thesis (PhD (Genetics. Plant Biotechnology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / The young internodes of sugarcane are ideal targets for altering metabolism, through genetic manipulation, to potentially control known fungal diseases such as Smut or to increase sucrose yields in these regions that are currently being discarded. At present, no regulatory sequences that specifically drive transgene expression in young developing sugarcane tissues are available. The objective of this study was therefore to isolate and evaluate such a sequence. The promoter targeted for isolation in this study regulates the expression of UDP-glucose dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.22), an enzyme which catalyses the oxidation of UDP-glucose to UDP-glucuronic acid, a precursor for structural polysaccharides which are incorporated into the developing cell wall. A strong correlation between the expression of UDP-glucose dehydrogenase and a demand for structural polysaccharides in developing tissues could therefore be expected. The first part of this study addressed the general practicality of promoter isolation from sugarcane, a complex polyploid. A gene encoding UDP-glucose dehydrogenase was isolated from a sugarcane genomic library. The gene contains an open reading frame (ORF) of 1443 bp, encoding 480 amino acids and one large intron (973 bp), located in the 5’-UTR. The derived amino acid sequence showed 88 – 98% identity with UDP-glucose dehydrogenase from other plant species, and contained highly conserved amino acid motifs required for cofactor binding and catalytic activity. Southern blot analysis indicates a low copy number for UDP-glucose dehydrogenase in sugarcane. The possible expression of multiple gene copies or alleles of this gene was investigated through comparison of sequences amplified from cDNA prepared from different tissues. Although five Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP) and one small-scale insertion/deletion (INDEL) were identified in the aligned sequences, hundred percent identity of the derived amino acid sequences suggested the expression of different alleles of the same gene rather than expression of multiple copies. The finding that multiple alleles are expressed to provide the required level of a specific enzyme, rather than the increased expression of one dominant allele, is encouraging for sugarcane gene and promoter isolation. In the second part of the study the suitability of UDP-glucose dehydrogenase as a target for the isolation of a developmentally regulated promoter was investigated. The contribution of UDP glucose dehydrogenase to pentan synthesis, as well as the expression pattern and subcellular localisation of the enzyme in mature sugarcane plants was studied at the tissue and cellular level. Radiolabelling with positionally labelled glucose was used to investigate the relative contributions of glycolysis, the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway and pentan synthesis to glucose catabolism. Significantly (P=0.05) more radiolabel was released as CO2 from [6-14C]- glucose than [1-14C]-glucose in younger internodes 3, 4 and 5, demonstrating a significant contribution of UDP-glucose dehydrogenase to glucose oxidation in the younger internodes. In addition, there was significantly (P=0.05) more radiolabel in the cell wall (fiber) component when the tissue was labelled with [1-14C]-glucose rather than [6-14C]-glucose. This also demonstrates a selective decarboxylation of glucose in position 6 prior to incorporation into the cell wall and is consistent with a major role for UDP-glucose dehydrogenase in cell wall synthesis in the younger internodes. Expression analysis showed high levels of expression of both the UDP-glucose dehydrogenase transcript and protein in the leafroll, roots and young internodes. In situ hybridisation showed that the UDP-glucose dehydrogenase transcript is present in virtually all cell types in the sugarcane internode, while immunolocalisation showed that the abundance of the protein declined in all cell types as maturity increased. Results obtained confirmed that this enzyme plays an important role in the provision of hemicellulose precursors in most developing tissues of the sugarcane plant, indicating that UDP-glucose dehydrogenase was indeed a suitable target for promoter isolation. Lastly, the promoter region and first intron, located in the 5’-untranslated region (UTR) of this gene, were isolated and subsequently fused to the GUS reporter gene for transient expression analysis and plant transformation. Transient expression analysis showed that the presence of the intron was essential for strong GUS expression. Analysis of stably transformed transgenic sugarcane plants, evaluated in a green house trial, showed that the isolated promoter is able to drive GUS expression in a tissue specific manner under these conditions.

Thesis (PhD (Logistics))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Computerised sugarcane harvest scheduling decision support is an active fi eld of research which ties in closely with the broader problem of automating and streamlining the various activities in the sugar supply chain. In this dissertation, the problem of providing decision support with respect to sugarcane harvesting decisions is defined within a number of contexts, each representing a typical kind of organisation of sugarcane farmers into a cohesive decision making unit with its speci fic requirements and limitations that exist in practice. A number of variations relevant to these contexts of an overarching tactical sugarcane harvest scheduling problem (THSP) are considered and solved in this dissertation. The THSP is the problem of providing objective, responsible decision support to persons charged with the task of determining optimal harvesting dates for a set of sugarcane fields across an entire season. Sugarcane fields typically diff er in terms of the age, variety, life-cycle stage and in many other properties of the cane grown on them. The growth of sugarcane crops may also be a ffected by environmental conditions such as accidental fires, frosts or storms which have a detrimental e ffect on crop-value. Since sugarcane is a living organism, its properties change over time, an so does the potential pro t associated with it. The practicalities of farming cause further complication of the problem (for example, seasonal changes alter the conditions under which the crop is harvested and transported). The rainy season carries with it the added cost of disallowing long-range vehicles to drive into the fields, forcing the unloading and reloading of cane at so-called loading zones. Other considerations, such as the early ploughing out of fields to allow them to fallow before being replanted, compounds the THSP into a multi-faceted difficult problem requiring efficient data management, mathematical modelling expertise and efficient computational work. In the literature the THSP has been viewed from many different standpoints and within many contexts, and a variety of operations research methodologies have been employed in solving the problem in part. There is, however, no description in the literature of a solution to the THSP that takes the negative e ffects of extreme environmental conditions on the quality of a harvesting schedule into account in a scienti fically justifi able manner; most models in the literature are based on optimising sucrose yield alone under normal conditions, rendering weak schedules in practice. The scope of the modelling and solution methodologies employed in this dissertation towards solving the THSP is restricted to integer programming formulations and approximate solution methods. The parameters associated with these models were determined empirically using historical data, as well as previous work on deterioration of sugarcane following environmental and other events. The THSP is solved in this dissertation by designing a generic architecture for a conceptual decision support system (DSS) for the THSP in the various contexts referred to above, which is capable of accommodating the e ects of extra-ordinary environmental conditions, as well as the introduction of a computer-implemented version of a real DSS for the THSP conforming to the framework of this generic architecture. The DSS building blocks include prediction models for sugarcane yield, sugarcane recoverable value under normal circumstances, the costs associated with a harvesting schedule and the negative e ects on sugarcane recoverable value of extraordinary environmental conditions. The working of the DSS is based on a combinatorial optimisation model resembling the well-known asymmetric traveling salesman problem with time-dependent costs which is solved approximately by means of an attribute-based tabu search in which both local and global moves have been incorporated. The DSS is also validated by experienced sugarcane industry experts in terms of the practicality and quality of the schedules that it produces. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Gerekenariseerde besluitsteun vir die skedulering van suikerriet-oeste is 'n aktiewe navorsingsveld wat nou verwant is aan die bre ër probleem van die outomatisering en vaartbelyning van 'n verskeidenheid aktiwiteite in die suikervoorsieningsketting. Die probleem van die daarstelling van steun rakende suikkerriet oestingsbesluite word in hierdie proefskrif in 'n aantal kontekste oorweeg, elk met betrekking tot 'n tipiese soort organisasie van suikerrietboere in 'n samehorige besluitnemingseenheid met sy spesi eke vereistes en beperkings in die praktyk. Verskeie variasies van 'n oorkoepelende taktiese suikerriet-oesskeduleringsprobleem (TSOSP) wat in hierde kontekste relevant is, naamlik die probleem om objektiewe, verantwoordbare steun aan besluitnemers te bied wat verantwoordelik is vir die bepaling van optimale oesdatums vir 'n versameling suikerrietplantasies oor die bestek van 'n hele seisoen, word in hierdie proefskrif bestudeer en opgelos. Suikerrietplantasies verskil tipies in terme van ouderdom, gewastipe, posisie in die lewensiklus, en vele ander eienskappe van die suikerriet wat daar groei. Omgewingstoestande, soos onbeplande brande, ryp of storms, het verder ook 'n negatiewe impak op die waarde van suikerriet op sulke plantasies. Omdat suikerriet 'n lewende organisme is, verander die eienskappe daarvan oor tyd, en so ook die potensi ele wins wat daarmee geassosieer word. Boerderypraktyke bemoeilik verder die skeduleringsprobleem onder beskouing (seisoenale veranderings beïnvloed byvoorbeeld die wyse waarop suikerriet ge-oes en vervoer word). Addisionele koste gaan voorts met die re ënseisoen gepaard, omdat die plantasies dan nie toeganklik is vir langafstand transportvoertuie nie en suikerriet gevolglik na spesiale laaisones gekarwei moet word voordat dit op hierdie voertuie gelaai kan word. Ander oorwegings, soos die vroe ë uitploeg van plantasies sodat die grond kan rus voordat nuwe suikerriet aangeplant word, veroorsaak dat die TSOSP 'n moeilike multi-faset probleem is, wat goeie databestuur, wiskundige modelleringsvernuf en doeltreff ende rekenaarwerk vereis. Die TSOSP word in die literatuur vanuit verskillende standpunte en in verskeie kontekste oorweeg, en 'n aantal uiteenlopende operasionele navorsingsmetodologie ë is al ingespan om hierdie probleem ten dele op te los. Daar is egter geen poging in die literatuur om 'n oplossing vir die TSOSP daar te stel waarin daar op 'n wetenskaplik-verantwoordbare wyse voorsiening gemaak word vir die negatiewe e ffekte wat uitsonderlike omgewingstoestande op die kwaliteit van oesskedules het nie; die meeste modelle in die literatuure is op slegs sukrose-opbrengs onder normale omstandighede gebaseer, wat lei na swak skedules in die praktyk. Die bestek van die wiskundige modellerings- en gepaardgaande oplossings-metodologie ë word in hierdie proefskrif vir die TSOSP beperk tot onderskeidelik heeltallige programmeringsformulerings en die bepaling van benaderde oplossings deur lokale soekprosedures. Die parameters wat met hierdie modelle en soekmetodes geassosieer word, word empiries bepaal deur gebruikmaking van historiese data asook bestaande werk oor die degradering van suikerriet as gevolg van omgewings- en ander eksterne faktore. Die TSOSP word in hierdie proefskrif opgelos deur die ontwerp van 'n generiese argitektuur vir 'n konseptuele besluitsteunstelsel (BSS) vir die TSOSP in die onderskeie kontekste waarna hierbo verwys word en wat die e ekte van uitsonderlike omgewingsfaktore in ag neem, asook die daarstelling van 'n rekenaar-ge ïmplementeerde weergawe van 'n daadwerklike BSS vir die TSOSP wat in die raamwerk van hierdie generiese argitektuur pas. Die boustene van hierdie BSS sluit modelle in vir die voorspelling van suikerrietopbrengs, die herwinbare waarde van suikerriet onder normale omstandighede, die verwagte koste geassosieer met 'n oesskedule en die negatiewe e ekte van omgewingsfaktore op die herwinbare waarde van suikerriet. Die werking van die BSS is gebaseer op 'n kombinatoriese optimeringsprobleem wat aan die welbekende asimmetriese handelreisigersprobleem met tyd-afhanklike kostes herinner, en hierdie model word benaderd opgelos deur middel van 'n eienskap-gebaseerde tabu-soektog waarin beide lokale en globale skuiwe ge ïnkorporeer is. Die BSS word ook gevalideer in terme van die haalbaarheid en kwaliteit van die skedules wat dit oplewer, soos geassesseer deur ervare kundiges in die suikerrietbedryf.

As usinas sucroalcooleiras aproveitam apenas a fração colmo da planta para a produção de açúcar e etanol restando o bagaço da cana-de-açúcar, composto das frações fibra e medula, é em grande parte usado para geração de energia elétrica. O resíduo agrícola da cana RAC, constituído pelas folhas, palha, e a ponteira da cana de açúcar são cortados durante a colheita e devolvidos ao campo para adubar o solo contribuindo para a lavoura da cana-de-açúcar. Os painéis hardboards são produzidos a partir da aplicação de calor e pressão a um colchão de fibras ou serragem de madeira, sendo aplicados como pisos na construção civil e como pranchetas e fundo de gavetas na indústria moveleira. Assim, a proposta desse trabalho foi o estudo da utilização dos materiais provenientes da cultura de cana-de-açúcar, em particular a fração medula do bagaço de cana-de-açúcar e do RAC para produção de hardboard (sem a utilização de adesivos) e particleboards (com a adição de resina fenol-formaldeído). Adicionalmente, estudou-se a adição da humina resultante de processos de hidrólise ácida do bagaço de cana-de-açúcar como coadjuvante na produção de painéis de medula de cana-de-açúcar. A utilização da resina fenol-formaldeído foi estudada no intervalo de 10% a 33%, sendo os melhores resultados obtidos quando do uso de 25% de resina, que apresentou tensão máxima de 29,9 MPa em ensaio de tração. Definido esse valor, realizou-se o estudo do efeito da quantidade de humina no intervalo de 12,5% a 75%, o qual revelou que a humina leva à produção de materiais frágeis com redução do desempenho mecânico. As frações RAC foram empregadas para a produção de amostras com teor de resina fenol-formaldeído igual a 25%. Todos os corpos de prova produzidos foram analisados por ensaios de tração (MOR e MOE), análise térmica, microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) e análise dinâmico mecânica. A produção de hardboards a partir da fração medula do bagaço de cana-de-açúcar, nas condições empregadas neste estudo preliminar, resultou em materiais com baixo desempenho mecânico, revelado pelos resultados dos ensaios de tração que indicou tensão máxima de 4,7 MPa. Entretanto, a mesma matéria prima quando misturada com resina fenol-formaldeído resultou na produção de particleboards que, apesar da dispersão pouca efetiva da resina, apresentaram um melhor desempenho mecânico (tensão máxima no intervalo de 29,9 a 11,3 MPa). Finalmente, os materiais obtidos com as frações RAC da cana-de-açúcar e resina FF mostraram-se mais homogêneos e com desempenho mecânico igual ou superior (tensão máxima no intervalo de 36,1 a 27,7 MPa) aos observados para os materiais obtidos com Pinus sp (tensão máxima de 27,7 MPa). / Sugar and ethanol mills use only the stem fraction of sugarcane for the production of sugar and ethanol. The sugarcane bagasse, composed of fiber and pith fractions, is largely used to generate electricity. The sugarcane agricultural residues - RAC, made up of leaves, straw and the tip of sugarcane are cut during harvest and returned to the field to fertilize the soil. Hardboard panels are produced from the application of heat and pressure to a fiber or sawdust mat. Its commercial application includes floors in construction and clipboards and bottom drawers in the furniture industry. Thus the purpose of this work was to study the use of materials from sugarcane culture, in particular the core fraction of bagasse sugarcane and the sugarcane trash for the production of hardboard (without the use of adhesives) and particleboards (with the addition of phenol formaldehyde resin). In addition, he studied the addition of the resulting humin acid hydrolysis process of sugarcane bagasse as an adjunct in the production of sugarcane pith panels. The use of phenol formaldehyde resin was studied in the range of 10% to 33%, with best results obtained when using 25% resin, which had maximum stress of 29.9 MPa in tensile testing. Once established, the study of the effect of the amount of humin was held in the range of 12.5% to 75%, which revealed that the humin leads to the production of brittle materials with reduced mechanical performance. Sugarcane trash fractions were used for production of resin samples with phenol formaldehyde content equal to 25%. All produced samples were analyzed by tensile tests (MOR and MOE), thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and dynamic mechanical analysis. The production of hardboards from the marrow fraction of sugarcane bagasse, under the conditions employed in this preliminary study, resulted in materials with low mechanical performance, revealed the results of tensile tests indicated that maximum voltage of 4.7 MPa. However, the same raw material when mixed with phenol-formaldehyde resin resulted in the production of particleboards that despite the low effective dispersion of the resin, had a better mechanical performance (maximum stress in the range from 29.9 to 11.3 MPa). Finally, materials obtained from the fractions of RAC sugarcane and PF resin proved to be more homogeneous and with equal or higher mechanical performance (maximum stress in the range from 36.1 to 27.7 MPa) to that observed for materials obtained with Pinus sp (maximum stress of 27.7 MPa).

O seqüenciamento em larga-escala e a aplicação da tecnologia de seqüências expressas (ESTs) permitiram a identificação de milhares de seqüências genômicas de vários organismos. Através de projetos como o de obtenção de ESTs de cana-de-açúcar (SUCEST - Sugarcane EST Project), a tecnologia de macro e microarranjos de DNA pôde ser aplicada para o monitoramento da expressão gênica. O primeiro passo deste trabalho foi otimizar a técnica de macroarranjos utilizando-se colônias bacterianas. Os arranjos foram construídos com o auxílio do robô Q-Bot. Células bacterianas contendo clones de cDNA de cana-de-açúcar foram arranjadas em duplicata em membranas de náilon e crescidas por 6 e 12 horas. Como resultado, concluiu-se que é possível estudar a expressão gênica em larga-escala usando macroarranjos de colônias bacterianas crescidas por 6 horas. Na segunda parte, o objetivo foi identificar genes de defesa em duas variedades de cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum sp.), em resposta ao herbívoro Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). A cana-de-açúcar é de grande importância para a agricultura brasileira e para a economia geral de muitos países em desenvolvimento. Estas plantas são atacadas por D. saccharalis, a mais importante praga desta cultura, causando significativas perdas econômicas. Como é sabido, as plantas desenvolveram complexas estratégias para se protegerem do ataque de insetos-praga. As variedades SP80-3280 (susceptível) e SP81-3250 (tolerante) de cana-de-açúcar foram expostas à D. saccharalis. Plantas submetidas à lagarta e plantas controle foram coletadas em 0.5, 6, 12 e 24 horas de experimento. As análises permitiram a identificação de genes diferencialmente expressos em resposta à lagarta nas duas variedades. Foram analisados o tempo, dinâmica e regulação da expressão de 3.840 clones do SUCEST, os quais foram crescidos na membrana de náilon por 6 horas. Estes ESTs foram agrupados em dezesseis classes: metabolismo de aminoácidos, crescimento/desenvolvimento, metabolismo de proteínas, metabolismo de RNA, metabolismo secundário, resposta à diferentes condições de estresse, transporte, bioenergética, transdução de sinal, dinâmica celular, metabolismo de DNA, metabolismo de lipídios, elementos móveis, metabolismo de nitrogênio, sulfato e fosfato, metabolismo de nucleotídeos e função não determinada (ND). Estes resultados ajudam elucidar as estratégias de defesa desenvolvidas pela cana-de-açúcar para evitar os danos causados por esta praga. Neste estudo, os dados do macroarray revelaram 580 ESTs com expressão aumentada, oriundos das duas variedades. Estes resultados são importantes não somente porque este é o primeiro estudo em larga-escala da expressão gênica de uma monocotiledônea em resposta ao ataque de herbívoros, mas também porque permite a comparação dos perfis de expressão entre genótipos susceptível e tolerante de cana-de-açúcar. Este estudo abre possibilidades para a engenharia genética de plantas de cana-de-açúcar inseto-resistentes e também para o uso destes genes como marcadores moleculares em programas de melhoramento assistido. / Large-scale sequencing and the application of expressed sequence tag (EST) technology has led to the identification of hundreds of thousands of genomic sequences from various organisms. Through projects like the Sugarcane Expressed Sequence Tag (SUCEST), DNA arrays technology could be applied in monitoring gene expression. The first step of this work was to optimize the macroarray technique with bacterial colonies. Arrays were robotically constructed (Q-Bot). Bacterial cells carrying sugarcane cDNA clones were arrayed in duplicate onto nylon membrane and grown for 6 and 12 hours. As a result, we conclude that is possible to study the gene expression in large-scale using macroarray through bacterial colony that grown for 6 hours. The second part of this work was to study how different two sugarcane varieties (Saccharum sp.) are in response resistance against Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Sugarcane is of great importance for Brazilian’s agriculture and for the general economy of many tropical developing countries. These plants are attacked by D. saccharalis, the most important insect pest of sugarcane, causing significant economic losses. As it is well known, plants have evolved complex defense strategies to protect them in opposition to attack by insects. The varieties SP80-3280 (susceptible) and SP81-3250 (tolerant) were exposed to D. saccharalis. Plants materials from plants with the borer and control plants (without the borer) were collected at 0.5, 6, 12 and 24 hours time points. The analysis revealed genes differentially expressed in response to sugarcane borer in both varieties. We analyzed the timing, dynamics, and regulation of the expression of 3,840 SUCEST clones, which were grown on a nylon membrane for 6 h. These ESTs was grouped into 16 broad categories: amino-acid metabolism, plant grow and development, protein metabolism, RNA metabolism, secondary metabolism, stress response, transport, bioenergetics, signal transduction, cellular dynamics, DNA metabolism, lipid, fatty-acid metabolism, mobile genetic elements, nitrogen, sulphur and phosphate metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, and the group matched to unable to classify, which no indication of the function of the gene product are known. These results help to elucidate the defense strategies developed by sugarcane in order to prevent against insect damage. In this study, macroarray analyses revealed 580 ESTs with increased expression, from both varieties. These results are important not only because this is the first large-scale gene expression study of a monocot in response to insect attack, but also because it allows the comparison of the gene expression pattern between susceptible and tolerant genotypes. This study opens possibilities for genetically-engineering of insect-resistant sugarcane and for using these genes as molecular markers in conventional breeding programs.

O Brasil é o maior produtor de cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum officinarum L.) do mundo e a cultura continua em expansão na safra 2014/15. A expansão das áreas de plantio de cana-de-açúcar e o sistema de colheita mecanizada de cana crua tem levado ao aumento proporcional de inúmeras pragas da cultura, destacando-se o bicudo da cana, Sphenophorus levis, considerado praga primária e limitante da cultura. Inicialmente, essa espécie foi considerada restrita a região de Piracicaba, mas desde 2010 foi encontrada nos estados de São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Paraná, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso e Goiás. Suas larvas abrem galerias nos rizomas, causando danos diretos nos tecidos dos colmos, sobretudo nas épocas mais secas do ano, o que ocasiona a morte das touceiras, falhas na rebrota, além de promover danos indiretos, como o aumento do número de plantas invasoras que competem com a cultura. Os métodos químico, mecânico, cultural e biológico já foram testados até o momento, no entanto, o sucesso no seu controle ainda não foi obtido e a população dessa praga continua crescendo e se tornando mais constante nos canaviais pelo Brasil. Dessa forma, estudar estratégias para a melhoria do manejo de S. levis é fundamental para o estabelecimento de métodos de controle eficientes no contexto do MIP. Diante disso, objetivou-se com esse trabalho: 1) Determinar a distribuição espacial e a flutuação populacional de S. levis; 2) Testar o manejo da palha pós-colheita nas linhas de plantio na ocorrência de S. levis e; 3) Avaliar a eficácia da aplicação de Beauveria bassiana na população de S. levis. Em relação à flutuação populacional de S. levis foi observada uma elevação linear da última quinzena de outubro para a primeira de novembro, com queda subsequente e, aumento populacional maior à partir da última quinzena de dezembro. O pico populacional se deu no mês de março, seguido por uma rápida redução a partir de abril. A proporção de fêmeas foi similar a de machos em todos os tratamentos. Os dados sugerem que não houve efeito dos tratamentos na distribuição de adultos do bicudo. Os resultados da flutuação populacional, da distribuição de frequência e distribuição espacial se complementam, pois, em hipótese, a distribuição dos adultos está diretamente relacionada com a flutuação populacional, uma vez que em altas densidades a distribuição foi agregada. Além disso, as estratégias de afastamento da palha da linha de plantio não interferiram nos níveis de infestação de S. levis, quando comparado ao tratamento que não houve manejo da palha e, essa tática utilizada conjuntamente à aplicação de B. bassiana também não influenciou na densidade populacional de adultos de S. levis no período avaliado. Diante disso, concluiu-se que a distribuição de S. levis em cana-de-açúcar apresenta o padrão agregado em altas densidades populacionais; o manejo da palha entre as linhas de cana-de-açúcar não reduz a densidade populacional de S. levis em locais com elevado histórico de infestação e, são necessários mais estudos para ajustar a dose de B. bassiana adequada e eficaz no controle de S. levis. / Brazil is the world\'s largest sugarcane producer and the cultivated area continues to expand in 2014/2015 season. This expansion, along with the mechanical harvesting of green sugarcane leads to a proportional increase in the number of crop pests, especially the sugarcane weevil, Sphenophorus levis, considered a primary and limiting pest in this crop. Initially, this species was restricted to the Piracicaba region, however, since 2010 it has been found in several regions of São Paulo State, and also in other states in the country, such as Minas Gerais, Paraná, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso and Goiás. The larvae penetrate the basal part of the plants and the rhizomes, building irregular galleries and causing damage to stem tissues, mainly in the driest season, leading to the death of clumps, failures in regrowth and, consequently, indirect damage due to the increase in the incidence of invasive plants that compete with the crop. Chemical, mechanical, cultural and biological methods have already been tested, however, the success in pest control has not yet been achieved and the population of S. levis continues to grow, becoming more constant in Brazilian sugarcane fields. Thus, the study of strategies to enhance the management of S. levis is essential to adopt effective control methods in the IPM framework. In this sense, this study aims to: 1) Determine the spatial distribution and population dynamics of S. levis; 2) Evaluate the postharvest management of straw on planting rows in occurrence of S. levis and; 3) Evaluate the efficacy of B. bassiana application in the S. levis population in sugarcane. Concerning population dynamics of S. levis, it was observed a linear increase beginning in the last quarter of October until November, with a subsequent decrease and, a highest population increase was observed in the last half of December. The population peak occurred in March, followed by a fast decline in early April. The proportion of females to males was similar in all treatments. The data suggest that there was no effect of treatments on the distribution of adult weevils. The results of population dynamics, frequency distribution and spatial distribution are complementary, because, hypothetically, the distribution of adults is directly related to population dynamics, since at high densities the distribution was aggregated. In addition, strategies for straw management in the planting row did not affect the infestation levels of S. levis and this procedure along with the addition of B. bassiana did not influence population density of adults during the study period. Hence, it is concluded that the distribution of S. levis in sugarcane exhibits an aggregated pattern at high population densities. Straw management between the cane rows does not reduce population density of S. levis in areas with high historical infestation. Therefore, further studies are needed to adjust the appropriate and effective concentration of B. bassiana in the control of S. levis.