van Heerden, P.D.R. Proc. Int. Soc. Sugar Cane Technol., Vol.

28, 2013 ______________________________________________________________________________________

EVALUATION OF TRINEXAPAC-ETHYL (MODDUS) AS A NEW CHEMICAL RIPENER FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN SUGARCANE INDUSTRY By P.D.R. VAN HEERDEN South African Sugarcane Research Institute, Private Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe, 4300, South Africa riekert.vanheerden@sugar.org.za KEYWORDS: Cane Quality, Chemical Ripening, Moddus, Sugarcane, Sugar Yield. Abstract ALTHOUGH INFORMATION FROM Brazil and Australia indicate that trinexapac-ethyl (Moddus) is an excellent new sugarcane ripener, there is no information on the response of South African varieties to this chemical. The objective of this investigation was to establish the ripening potential of this chemical in a local variety and to compare responses with current industry standards, 2-chloroethyl phosphonic acid (Ethephon) and fluazifop-p-butyl (Fusilade Forte). Evaluation was conducted in an irrigated plant and first ratoon crop of variety N32 at Pongola, South Africa. The field trial was laid out as a complete randomised design with 5 replicates per treatment. The nine treatments comprised: a) untreated control, b) Ethephon (1.5 litre/hectare) applied 84 days before harvest (DBH), c) Fusilade Forte (0.2 litre/hectare) applied 43 DBH, d) Moddus at three rates (0.8, 1 and 2 litre/hectare) applied 70 DBH, e) Ethephon (1.5 litre/hectare) and Fusilade Forte (0.2 litre/hectare) applied in combination 84 and 43 DBH, and f) Moddus (0.8 and 1 litre/hectare) and Fusilade Forte (0.2 litre/hectare) applied in combination 70 and 43 DBH. The various ripener treatments improved estimated recoverable crystal (ERC) yields in the 12-month old crops by between 1.64.9 tonnes/hectare when compared with the control. Moddus applied at 0.8 and 1 litre/hectare achieved similar improvements as Fusilade Forte and Ethephon, but at 2 litre/hectare outperformed the latter two ripeners by up to 1.9 tonnes ERC/hectare. Best ERC yield responses were achieved in the three combination treatments. However, the ModdusFusilade Forte combination treatments outperformed the standard EthephonFusilade Forte combination treatment by up to 1 tonne ERC/hectare. These results indicate that Moddus is an effective sugarcane ripener under South African high-potential irrigated conditions and that improvement in ERC yields exceeding those obtained with current industry standards might be possible. Introduction Chemical ripeners are applied to the sugarcane leaf canopy by means of aircraft or groundoperated spray booms. The active compounds are subsequently absorbed through the leaves and cause chemical suppression of shoot and/or leaf growth (Alexander, 1973). Although chemical ripeners may reduce photosynthetic rates (Rostron, 1974), their suppression of growth has a dominant effect on increasing sucrose accumulation by lowering the growth sink demand for sucrose. This accelerates sucrose storage within the stalk, leading to an increase in juice purity and stalk sucrose content (% cane) (Clowes, 1978; Solomon et al., 2001; Donaldson, 2002; Morgan et al., 2007). The main advantage of chemical ripeners is that they can suppress stalk and leaf growth much more rapidly and consistently than natural processes such as reduced temperatures or limiting soil moisture (Alexander, 1973).
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Trinexapac-ethyl (Moddus) is a growth regulator used as an anti-lodging agent in cereals and as a growth regulator in turf grasses. However, at the correct dosage this chemical can be used as a ripener in sugarcane. Once absorbed through the leaves, the active compound transiently (over a 46 week period) inhibits the conversion of an inactive precursor (GA20) of the plant hormone giberellic acid (GA) into one of its main bioactive forms (GA1). In the process GA20 accumulates, while the suppression of GA1 levels leads to an inhibition of internode elongation (Resende et al., 2000; Rixon et al., 2007), which lowers sink demand with a concomitant acceleration of sucrose storage (ripening) within the stalk. Moddus is currently registered for use on sugarcane in Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico and Australia. Results from Brazil and Australia indicate that this chemical is very effective in ripening sugarcane with juice purities of up to 85% at the time of application (Resende et al., 2000; Kingston and Rixon, 2007). Research in Brazil showed that this chemical was able to increase the sugar content in a large range of varieties by an average of 10% (Resende et al., 2000). In many production areas, only one type of chemical ripener is applied to a particular crop. However, in some countries like South Africa, Swaziland, and Malawi, the current registered chemical ripeners, Ethephon and Fusilade Forte are frequently used in a combination treatment. In this combination treatment, Ethephon is applied first, usually about 12 weeks before harvest, followed by the application of Fusilade Forte to the same crop about five to six weeks later. In a number of commercial sugarcane varieties grown in Southern Africa, this combination treatment has proved to be much more effective compared with only applying one of the two ripeners (Sweet et al., 1987; Donaldson, 2001). However, there is no information on the response of South African varieties to Moddus. Furthermore the potential application of a combination ModdusFusilade Forte treatment has to the best of our knowledge not yet been explored. The objectives of this investigation were therefore to establish the ripening potential of this chemical in a local variety under high-potential irrigated growing conditions and to compare responses with the current industry standards, Ethephon and Fusilade Forte, and the currently used standard combination treatment. Materials and methods Trial design A drip-irrigated field trial was planted to variety N32 on 23 April 2010 at the South African Sugarcane Research Institutes (SASRIs) experiment farm in Pongola. N32 was chosen because of its high resistance to lodging, which is a major risk factor in ripener evaluation trials. Fertiliser application rates were determined from soil samples collected at planting and harvest of the plant crop. The plant and first ratoon crops were harvested on 19 April 2011 and 3 April 2012 respectively. Both crops were initially irrigated with overhead sprinklers to bring the water in the soil profile to field capacity and to achieve uniform germination/emergence. Thereafter, water was applied by surface drip irrigation to maintain soil moisture content in the top 60 cm of the soil profile at between 7595% of field capacity. Soil moisture content was monitored using 10 HS Decagon soil moisture probes (Decagon Devices Inc., Pullman, USA) inserted in pairs into undisturbed soil at 15 cm and 45 cm depths between the cane rows and dripper lines at 5 random locations within the field. Trial plots consisted of 6 cane rows, each 16 m long and spaced 1.4 m apart. The experiment was a completely randomised design with five replications per treatment. Chemical ripener treatments Both the plant and first ratoon crops were used for ripener product evaluation. In both crops, treatments comprised an unsprayed (untreated) control and ripeners applied either as individual or
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van Heerden, P.D.R. Proc. Int. Soc. Sugar Cane Technol., Vol. 28, 2013 ______________________________________________________________________________________

combination treatments. For the individual treatments, Ethephon was applied 84 days before harvest (DBH) at 1.5 L/ha, while Fusilade Forte was applied 43 DBH at 0.2 L/ha according to recommended practice. Moddus was applied 70 DBH at 0.8, 1.0 and 2 L/ha. The spray-to-harvest interval and application rates were based on previous research conducted at SASRI (RA Donaldson, unpublished results). For the combination treatments Ethephon was applied 84 DBH at 1.5 L/ha followed by Fusilade Forte 43 DBH at 0.2 L/ha, while Moddus was applied 70 DBH at 0.8 and 1 L/ha followed by Fusilade Forte 43 DBH at 0.2 L/ha. Ripeners were applied to cane rows 25 in each plot while cane rows 1 and 6 acted as unsprayed guard rows. All spray mixtures were applied by CO2-pressurised spraying equipment with an overhead boom fitted with two TK-1 flood jet nozzles spaced 1.4 m apart. The spray mixtures were delivered in a water volume of 57 L/ha. Measurements A 12-stalk sample was taken from rows 2 and 5 of each plot at five different time intervals between ripener application and harvest to determine a range of milling quality characteristics, including estimated recoverable crystal per cent (ERC%), which is an estimate of the recoverable value of sugarcane delivered to the sugar factory. The ERC% was calculated per stalk fresh weight (FW) as (equation 1): ERC% = aS bNcF (Eq. 1) where S = sucrose % per stalk FW; N= non-sucrose % per stalk FW; F = fibre % per stalk FW and a, b, c are industry determined factors representing the loss of each component (0.978, 0.535, and 0.018 respectively) during sucrose extraction at the factory. Stalk heights, stalk population counts, green leaf counts and lodge ratings were also measured at the same time intervals from rows 3 and 4 of each plot. At harvest, these two centre rows were cut and bundled by hand and weighed using a hydraulic grab apparatus equipped with a load cell to determine cane yield (t/ha). The ERC yield (t/ha) per plot was subsequently calculated as: ERC yield (t/ha) = ERC% Cane yield (Eq. 2) Statistical analysis All the variables were analysed using one-way ANOVA. Each variable was first tested for normality and homogeneity using the Shapiro-Wilk and Bartlett tests respectively (Genstat v.14). The post hoc test used was the least significant difference (LSD) (5%) test. Results and discussion Effect of chemical ripener treatments on cane quality (ERC %) The effects of the various ripener treatments on cane quality (ERC %) in the plant and first ratoon crops are illustrated in Figure 1. In the plant crop (black bars), ERC % was increased by between 13.3 percentage units relative to the unsprayed control. In terms of the individual ripener applications, Moddus applied at 1 L/ha (Mod 1) and 2 L/ha (Mod 2) increased ERC % by at least 1 percentage unit more than the current industry standards Ethephon (Eth) and Fusilade Forte (FF). The three combination treatments (Eth + FF, Mod 0.8 + FF and Mod 1 + FF) resulted in the largest increases in ERC % of respectively 3.3, 2.7 and 3.2 percentage units relative to the control. Compared to the control, ERC % in the first ratoon crop (grey bars) was increased to a much larger extent than in the plant crop (black bars) by the various chemical ripener treatments (Figure 1). The ERC % was increased by between 2.2-5.1 percentage units relative to the unsprayed control.
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van Heerden, P.D.R. Proc. Int. Soc. Sugar Cane Technol., Vol. 28, 2013 ______________________________________________________________________________________
14 12 10
Plant crop First ratoon

Cane quality (ERC%)

8 6 4 2 0
tro l FF Et h+ FF M od 0. 8 M od 1 M od M od 2 0. 8 + FF M od 1 + FF C on Et h

Treatment
Fig. 1The effects of Ethephon (Eth), Fusilade Forte (FF) and Moddus (Mod) applied as individual and combination treatments on cane quality (ERC%). Values represent the mean of five replicates and LSD (P<0.05) values for the plant and first ratoon crops are shown as black error bars.

In terms of the individual ripener applications, the Mod 0.8, Mod 1 and Mod 2 treatments increased ERC % more than the current industry standards Eth and FF. The largest increase was observed in the Mod 2 treatment where ERC % was increased by at least 1.5 percentage units more than the two industry standards. Besides the Mod 2 treatment, the three combination treatments (Eth + FF, Mod 0.8 + FF and Mod 1 + FF) resulted in the largest increases in ERC% of respectively 5.1, 4.1 and 3.9 percentage units relative to the control. Averaged across both crops, the increases in ERC % (relative to the control) in the current industry standard treatments, Eth and FF, were 1.8 and 1.7 percentage units respectively, while the increases in the Mod 0.8, Mod 1 and Mod 2 treatments were 2, 2.5 and 3.2 percentage units respectively. These results indicate that Moddus increased ERC % in a dose-dependent fashion with the largest increase obtained at an application rate of 2 L/ha. At all three rates, Moddus increased ERC % to a larger extent than the current industry standards. The three combination treatments increased ERC % the most. Effect of chemical ripener treatments on cane yield (t/ha) In order to reap maximum economic benefit from chemical ripeners, not only increases in cane quality (ERC %) must be achieved, but also increases in ERC yield (t/ha). As shown in Figure 1, all the chemical ripeners improved ERC % substantially, but their mode of action, namely suppression of stalk and/or leaf growth, could have reduced millable cane yield (t/ha) at harvest. An on-going and often contentious topic among sugarcane growers and millers is to what extent the loss (or perceived loss) of millable cane yield reduces the true economic benefit of chemical ripeners in terms of ERC yields achieved. None of the treatments resulted in statistically significant reductions in cane yield in the plant and first ratoon crops (Figure 2).
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van Heerden, P.D.R. Proc. Int. Soc. Sugar Cane Technol., Vol. 28, 2013 ______________________________________________________________________________________

Previous research has demonstrated statistically significant reductions in cane yield in variety N32 when Moddus was applied 92 DBH (RA Donaldson, unpublished results), which suggest that the shorter spray-to-harvest interval (70 DBH) employed in this study might be more appropriate to minimise cane yield loss, but without compromising the desired increase in ERC % (Figure 1). This suggestion is also in good agreement with previous findings from Brazil (Resende et al., 2000).
140 120 100
Plant crop First ratoon

Cane yield (t/ha)

80 60 40 20 0

tro l

Fig. 2The effects of Ethephon (Eth), Fusilade Forte (FF) and Moddus (Mod) applied as individual and combination treatments on cane yield (t/ha). Values represent the mean of five replicates and LSD (P<0.05) values for the plant and first ratoon crops are shown as white error bars.

Effect of chemical ripener treatments on ERC yield (t/ha) In Figure 3, the effect of the various ripener treatments on ERC yield (t/ha) in the plant and first ratoon crops are illustrated. All the chemical ripener treatments resulted in higher ERC yields than those achieved in the controls. The substantial increases in ERC % (Figure 1) therefore more than compensated for the small non-significant reductions in cane yield (Figure 2). In the plant crop (black bars), ERC yields were increased by between 14.3 t/ha relative to the unsprayed control. In terms of the individual ripener applications, the Mod 0.8, Mod 1 and Mod 2 treatments increased ERC yields by 1, 1.9 and 3.1 t/ha respectively compared to 1.6 and 1.3 t/ha for the current industry standards Eth and FF respectively. Best results were achieved in the three combination treatments. However, the Mod 0.8 + FF and Mod 1 + FF treatments outperformed the standard Eth + FF combination treatment by at least 1 t ERC/ha. Compared to the control, ERC yield in the first ratoon crop (grey bars) was increased to a larger extent than in the plant crop (black bars) by the various chemical ripener treatments (Figure 3). The ERC yields were increased by between 1.85.4 t/ha relative to the unsprayed control. In terms of the individual ripener applications, the Mod 0.8, Mod 1 and Mod 2 treatments increased ERC yields by 2.6, 2.5 and 3.9 t/ha respectively compared to 2.9 and 1.8 t/ha for the current
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Et h+ FF M od 0. 8 M od 1 M od M od 2 0. 8 + FF M od 1 + FF

on

Et h

FF

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van Heerden, P.D.R. Proc. Int. Soc. Sugar Cane Technol., Vol. 28, 2013 ______________________________________________________________________________________

industry standards Eth and FF respectively.

16 14 12
Plant crop First ratoon

ERC yield (t/ha)

10 8 6 4 2 0

tro l

Fig. 3The effects of Ethephon (Eth), Fusilade Forte (FF) and Moddus (Mod) applied as individual and combination treatments on ERC yield (t/ha). Values represent the mean of five replicates and LSD (P<0.05) values for the plant and first ratoon crops are shown as black error bars.

Besides the Mod 2 treatment, the three combination treatments (Eth + FF, Mod 0.8 + FF and Mod 1 + FF) resulted in the largest improvement in ERC yields of respectively 4.5, 5.4 and 3.7 t/ha relative to the control. Averaged across both crops the increases in ERC yield (relative to the control) in the current industry standard treatments, Eth and FF, were 2.2 and 1.6 t/ha, while the increases in the Mod 0.8, Mod 1 and Mod 2 treatments were 1.8, 2.2 and 3.5 t/ha respectively. These results indicate that Moddus increased ERC yield in a dose-dependent fashion with the largest increase obtained at an application rate of 2 L/ha, which exceeded the industry standards by at least 1.3 t ERC/ha. The three combination treatments increased ERC yield the most. Conclusion When averaged across both crops, the various ripener treatments increased ERC yields in N32 by between 1.64.9 t/ha compared to the control. The results indicate that Moddus is an effective sugarcane ripener under South African high-potential irrigated conditions and that improvement in ERC yields exceeding those obtained with current industry standards might be possible. These results contribute towards the possible registration of Moddus as a new sugarcane ripener for the South African sugarcane industry. However, varietal differences in the ripening response to this chemical have also been reported. The implication is that each variety will have to be screened to determine product efficacy. It is currently hypothesised that varietal differences in the levels of the four main biologically active gibberellins (GA1, GA3, GA4, and GA7) might underpin some of these
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Et h+ FF M od 0. 8 M od 1 M od M od 2 0. 8 + FF M od 1 + FF

on

Et h

FF

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van Heerden, P.D.R. Proc. Int. Soc. Sugar Cane Technol., Vol. 28, 2013 ______________________________________________________________________________________

differences (Resende et al., 2000; Rixon et al., 2007). This is a hypothesis worthy of further investigation, because this chemical exclusively inhibits GA1 synthesis only (Rixon et al., 2007). One of the major advantages that Moddus could bring to the South African sugarcane industry is the ability of this chemical to effectively ripen sugarcane with juice purities in the range of 85% (Kingston and Rixon, 2007). In contrast, Ethephon only achieves good efficacy when juice purities are below 75% (Eastwood and Davis, 1997). This opens up opportunities for using Moddus, not only in irrigated sugarcane, but also in certain rainfed environments and as a lateseason ripener when sugarcane is inherently more mature than during the early part of the South African milling season. Another advantage is that contrary to Fusilade Forte, which kills the stalk apical meristem, Moddus-treated sugarcane will ultimately resume normal growth, which minimises the risk of adverse effects developing when harvesting is disrupted or during unintended carry-over to the following season. Finally, exciting findings have been reported showing that this chemical induces large stimulation of root biomass and distribution in the following ratoon (Resende et al., 2000) as well as improved ratooning (Di Bella et al., 2007). All the positive attributes discussed above bode well for the wide-spread use of Moddus in the South African sugarcane industry upon product registration. Acknowledgements Special thanks to Syngenta South Africa (Pty) Limited for funding this research and for permission to publish the results. Special thanks to the management and technical team staff at the South African Sugarcane Research Institutes experiment farm in Pongola for provision of land and human resources during the experiments. REFERENCES Alexander, A.G. (1973). Sugarcane Physiology. A Comprehensive Study of the Saccharum Source-to-Sink System. Elsevier Scientific Publishing Co., Amsterdam. Clowes, M. St. J. (1978). Early and late season chemical ripening of sugarcane. Proc. S. Afr. Sugar Cane Technol. Assoc., 52: 160165. Di Bella, L.P., Rixon, C., Armytage, P., Davies, B., Wood, A.W. and Sheedy, P. (2007). The 2006 Herbert Moddus pilot program. Proc. Aust. Soc. Sugar Cane Technol., 29: 368376. Donaldson, R.A. (2001). Effects of Fusilade Super and Ethephon as single and tandem treatments on four sugarcane varieties. Proc. Int. Soc. Sugar Cane Technol., 24: 196198. Donaldson, R.A. (2002). Changes in the components of sugarcane culms from ripening with Fusilade Super. Proc. S. Afr. Sugar Cane Technol. Assoc., 76: 106109. Eastwood, D. and Davis, H.D. (1997). Chemical ripening in Guyanaprogress and prospects. Sugar Cane, 3: 417. Morgan, T., Jackson, P., McDonald, L. and Holtum, J. (2007). Chemical ripeners increase early season sugar content in a range of sugarcane varieties. Aust. J. Agric. Res., 58: 233241. Kingston, G. and Rixon, C.M. (2007). Ripening responses of twelve sugarcane cultivars to Moddus (Trin-Exapac Ethyl). Proc. Aust. Soc. Sugar Cane Technol., 29: 328338. Resende, P.A.P., Soares, J.E. and Hudetz, M. (2000). Moddus, a plant growth regulator and management tool for sugarcane in Brazil. Sugar Cane Int., April 2000: 59. Rixon, C.M., Di Bella, L.P., Kingston, G., Dorahy, K., Davies, B. and Wood, A.W. (2007). Moddus a sugar enhancer. Proc. Aust. Soc. Sugar Cane Technol., 29: 318327. Rostron, H. (1974). Chemical ripening of sugarcane with Ethrel and Polaris. Proc. Int. Soc. Sugar Cane Technol., 15: 953965. Solomon, S., Shahi, H.N., Dutta Majumder, S.K., Singh, I. and Madan, V.K. (2001). Effect of Ethephon on sugarcane growth under sub-tropical climates. Proc. Int. Soc. Sugar Cane Technol., 24: 174176. Sweet, C.P.M., White, P.W. and Dodsworth, G.H. (1987). Commercial experience with chemical sugarcane ripeners at Simunye sugar estate in Swaziland. Proc. S. Afr. Sugar Cane Technol. Assoc., 61: 121127.
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van Heerden, P.D.R. Proc. Int. Soc. Sugar Cane Technol., Vol. 28, 2013 ______________________________________________________________________________________

TEST DU TRINEXAPAC-ETHYL (MODDUS) COMME NOUVEAU MATURATEUR POUR LINDUSTRIE SUCRIERE EN AFIQUE DU SUD Par P.D.R. VAN HEERDEN South African Sugarcane Research Institute, Private Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe, 4300, South Africa riekert.vanheerden@sugar.org.za MOTS CLS: Qualit de la Canne, Maturateur, Moddus, Canne Sucre, Rendement en Sucre. Rsum BIEN QUAU BRSIL et en Australie, leffet maturateur du trinexapac-ethyl (Moddus) sur canne sucre soit considr trs positif, il ny a pas dinformation sur la raction des varits dAfrique du Sud cette substance active. Lobjectif des travaux prsents a t dvaluer cet effet maturateur sur les varits locales et de comparer les rponses celles des maturateurs dj utiliss localement, 2-chlorothyl phosphonic acid (Ethephon) et fluazifop-p-butyl (Fusilade Forte). Lessai a t conduit, Pongola en Afrique du Sud, sur une plantation et premire repousse irrigues de la varit N32, selon un dispositif en blocs randomiss complets cinq rptitions par traitement. Les neuf traitements comprenaient : a) le tmoin non trait, b) Ethphon (1,5 litre/hectare) appliqu 84 jours avant rcolte (Day Before Harvest - DBH), c) Fusilade Forte (0,2 litre/hectare) appliqu 43 DBH, d) Moddus trois doses (0,8, 1 et 2 litre/hectare) 70 DBH, e) Ethphon (1,5 litre/hectare) et Fusilade Forte (0,2 litre/hectare) appliqus ensemble 84 et 43 DBH, et f) Moddus (0,8 et 1 litre/hectare) et Fusilade Forte (0,2 litre/hectare) appliqus ensemble 70 et 43 DBH. Pour des cannes ges de 12 mois, par rapport au tmoin non trait, les diffrents maturateurs ont augment le rendement en sucre rcuprable estim de 1,6 4,9 tonnes/hectare. Le Moddus, appliqu 0,8 ou 1 litre/hectare a la mme efficacit que le Fusilade Forte et lEthphon, mais 2 litres/hectare il dpasse ces deux maturateurs de 1,9 tonne en ERC/hectare. Les meilleurs rendements en ERC/hectare ont t obtenus avec les trois combinaisons. Cependant, la combinaison Moddus Fusilade Forte dpasse la modalit de rfrence, Ethphon - Fusilade Forte, dune tonne de ERC/hectare. En Afrique du Sud, ces rsultats confirment leffet maturateur du Moddus sur la canne sucre dans des conditions fort potentiel de production sous irrigation. Cette augmentation dERC dpasse celle attendue des maturateurs de rfrence.

van Heerden, P.D.R. Proc. Int. Soc. Sugar Cane Technol., Vol. 28, 2013 ______________________________________________________________________________________

EVALUACIN DE TRINEXAPAC-ETIL (MODDUS ) COMO MADURADOR QUMICO PARA LA INDUSTRIA CAERA SUDAFRICANA Por P.D.R. VAN HEERDEN South African Sugarcane Research Institute, Private Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe, 4300, South Africa Riekert.vanheerden@sugar.org.za PALABRAS CLAVES: Calidad de Caa, Maduracin Qumica, Moddus , Caa de Azcar, Rendimiento Sacarino. Resumen A PESAR QUE LA informacin que proviene de Brasil y Australia indican que el trinexapac-etil (Moddus) es un excelente madurador en caa de azcar, no hay informacin sobre la respuesta de este madurador en las variedades sudafricanas. El objetivo de esta investigacin fue establecer la maduracin potencial de este agroqumico en las variedades locales y comparar la respuesta con los actualmente utilizados en la industria, acido 2-cloroetilfosfonico (Ethephon) y Fluazifop-p-butil (Fusilade Forte). Las evaluaciones fueron conducidas en caa planta y soca 1 de las variedades N32 y Pongola, South frica. El campo experimental fue establecido en bloque completos, aleatorizados con 5 replicas por tratamientos. Los 9 tratamientos comprendieron: a) control no tratado, b) Ethephon (1,5 l/ha) aplicado 84 dias antes de la cosecha (DAC), c) Fusilade Forte (0,2 l/ha) 43 DAC, d) Moddus en tres dosis (0,8; 1 y 2 l/ha) aplicado 70 DAC, e) Ethephon (1,5 l/ha) y Fusilade Forte (0,2 l/ha) aplicado en forma combinada 84 y 43 DAC y f) Moddus (0,8 y 1 l/ha) y Fluazifop (0,2 l/ha) aplicado en forma combinada 70 y 43 DAC. Los diversos tratamientos aumentaron el azcar recuperable (ARE) en caa de 12 meses de edad fue entre 1,6 y 4,9 t/ha comparados con el testigo. Moddus aplicado entre 0,8 y 1 l/ha mostro mejoras similares a Fusilade Forte y Ethephon, pero 2 l/ha supero los dos ltimos maduradores hasta 1,9 t de ARE /ha. La mejor respuesta fue lograda en las tres combinaciones de los productos. Sin embargo, la combinacin de Moddus-Fluazifop super a la combinacin estndar de Ethephon-Fusilade Forte hasta en 1 t/ha de azcar recuperable. Los resultados indican que Moddus es un efectivo madurador de caa de azcar bajo las condiciones de riego de alto potencial productivo en Sudfrica y estas mejoras de ARE podran dar la posibilidad de superar los resultados obtenidos con los estndares actuales de la industria.

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AVALIAO DO ETIL-TRINEXAPAC (MODDUS) COMO UM NOVO MATURADOR QUMICO PARA A INDSTRIA DE CANA-DE-ACAR SUL-AFRICANA Por P.D.R. VAN HEERDEN South African Sugarcane Research Institute, Private Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe, 4300, frica do Sul riekert.vanheerden@sugar.org.za PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Qualidade de Cana, Maturador Qumico, Moddus, Cana-de-Acar, Rendimento de Acar. Resumo EMBORA EXISTAM INFORMAEs provenientes do Brasil e da Austrlia indicando que o etiltrinexapac (Moddus) um excelente novo maturador de cana, no existem informaes sobre a resposta de variedades sul-africanas a esse novo qumico. O objetivo desta investigao foi estabelecer o potencial maturador desse qumico em uma variedade local e comparar as respostas aos padres atuais da indstria, o cido 2-chloroetil fosfnico (Ethephon) e o fluazifop-p-butil (Fusilade Forte). A avaliao foi conduzida em uma cana planta e primeira soqueira irrigadas da variedade N32 em Pongola, frica do Sul. O experimento de campo foi um delineamento em blocos randomizados com 5 repeties por tratamento. Os nove tratamentos incluram: a) controle no tratado, b) Ethephon (1,5 litro/hectare) aplicado 84 dias antes da colheita, c) Fusilade Forte (0,2 litro/hectare) aplicado 43 dias antes da colheita, d) Moddus em trs dosagens (0,8, 1 e 2 litros/hectare) aplicados 70 dias antes da colheita, e) Ethephon (1,5 litro/hectare) e Fusilade Forte (0,2 litro/hectare) aplicados em combinao 84 e 43 dias antes da colheita, e f) Moddus (0,8 e 1 litro/hectare) e Fusilade Forte (0,2 litro/hectare) aplicados em combinao 70 e 43 dias antes da colheita. Os vrios tratamentos com maturadores aumentaram os rendimentos de cristais recuperveis em culturas de 12 meses em cerca de 1,6 a 4,9 toneladas/hectare em comparao ao controle. Moddus aplicado a 0,8 e 1 litro/hectare alcanou aumentos semelhantes aos do Fusilade Forte e do Ethephon, mas a 2 litros/hectare, superou os dois ltimos maturadores em at 1,9 toneladas de ERC/hectare. As melhores respostas de ERC foram alcanadas nos tratamentos com trs combinaes. Entretanto, os tratamentos combinados Moddus Fusilade Forte superaram o tratamento padro Ethephon - Fusilade Forte em at 1 tonelada de ERC/hectare. Esses resultados indicam que o Moddus um maturador eficaz sob as condies irrigadas de alto potencial da frica do Sul e que o aumento nos rendimentos de ERC superaram aqueles obtidos com os padres utilizados pela indstria.

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