ABSTRACT In the last 40 years, several scientific and technological advances in microbiology of the fermentation have greatly contributed to evolution of the ethanol industry in Brazil. These contributions have increased our view and comprehension about fermentations in the first and, more recently, second-generation ethanol. Nowadays, new technologies are available to produce ethanol from sugarcane, corn and other feedstocks, reducing the off-season period. Better control of fermentation conditions can reduce the stress conditions for yeast cells and contamination by bacteria and wild yeasts. There are great research opportunities in production processes of the first-generation ethanol regarding high-value added products, cost reduction and selection of new industrial yeast strains that are more robust and customized for each distillery. New technologies have also focused on the reduction of vinasse volumes by increasing the ethanol concentrations in wine during fermentation. Moreover, conversion of sugarcane biomass into fermentable sugars for second-generation ethanol production is a promising alternative to meet future demands of biofuel production in the country. However, building a bridge between science and industry requires investments in research, development and transfer of new technologies to the industry as well as specialized personnel to deal with new technological challenges.

Los nematodos entomopatógenos (NEPs) son parásitos obligados de insectos, incluyendo al picudo de la caña Sphenophorus levis. Sin embargo, para la aplicación con éxito de NEPs en cultivos de caña en Brasil se debe tener en cuenta que la cosecha mecánica genera una capa de residuos de hojas (mantillo) en el suelo. En este estudio se evaluaron la influencia de la cobertura vegetal sobre la persistencia del nematodo Steinernema brazilense(cepa IBCB n6) en cultivo de caña, usando larvas de Galleria mellonella. S. brazilense puede persistir en el suelo de caña al menos durante 278 días después de su aplicación y el mantillo no afecta su persistencia, pero sí favorece su diseminación en comparación con el suelo desnudo.

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN's) were tested for sugarcane soil dwelling pests, including the billbug, Sphenophorus levis. The successful application of EPN's to protect sugarcane crops in Brazil requires the consideration of several aspects, including the widespread use of mechanical harvesting, which discards cane leaves in fields, resulting in a thick layer of mulch covering the ground. In this study, the influence of mulch on the persistence of Steinernema brazilense(strain IBCB n6) in sugarcane fields was examined. Nematode persistence in the soil was evaluated using Galleria mellonella larvae as an attractant. Results showed that S. brazilense can persists in sugarcane fields for at least 278 days after its application, and mulch does not affect its persistence, thus favoring its spread as compared to bare soil.

O bicudo da cana-de-açúcar, Sphenophorus levis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), é uma importante praga de solo dos canaviais no Estado de São Paulo, ocasionando prejuízos de até 30 t de cana/ha/ano. Visando ao controle biológico desta praga, esse estudo teve por objetivo avaliar a virulência de 17 isolados de nematóides entomopatogênicos do gênero Steinernema e Heterorhabditis contra adultos de S. levis, e o efeito dos quatro nematóides mais virulentos em três dosagens cada um. A pesquisa foi realizada em condições de laboratório, sendo realizados quatro ensaios para o estudo de virulência. Os nematóides selecionados como mais virulentos em cada teste foram S. brazilense IBCB n6, Heterorhabditis sp. IBCB n10, Heterorhabditis sp. IBCB n24 e Heterorhabditis sp. IBCB n44, sendo os únicos que diferenciaram significativamente das respectivas testemunhas com 45%, 40%, 20% e 31% de mortalidade do inseto na concentração de 240 juvenis infectivos (JI)/inseto. No teste de dose, os isolados de Heterorhabditis identificados como IBCB n10, IBCB n24 e IBCB n44 destacaram-se quanto à virulência para os adultos do bicudo da cana-de-açúcar, diferindo significativamente da testemunha na maior dose avaliada (1200 JI/inseto) com níveis de mortalidade do inseto de 60%, 65,7% e 74,3% respectivamente.

The sugarcane billbug, Sphenophorus levis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is an important underground pest of the sugarcane crop in São Paulo state, causing losses up to 30 tons of cane/ha/year. This study aimed to evaluate the virulence of 17 strains of entomopathogenic nematodes on the genus Steinernema and Heterorhabditis against adults of S. levis, and the effect of the four most virulent ones in three dosage each one. The research was done in laboratory conditions, performing four tests related to the virulence study and one related to the dosage study. S. brazilense IBCB n6, Heterorhabditis sp. IBCB n10, Heterorhabditis sp. IBCB n24 and Heterorhabditis sp. IBCB n44 were the most virulent ones, differing significantly from the respective control with 45%, 40%, 20% and 31% mortality of insects using the concentration of 240 infective juveniles (IJ)/insect. For the dosage test, the strains IBCB n10, IBCB n24 and IBCB n44 of Heterorhabditis noteworthy concerning the virulence for adults of the sugarcane billbug, differing significantly from the control at the higher dosage (1200 IJ/insect) with insect mortality levels of 60%, 65,7% e 74,3%, respectively.