International Journal of Research Studies in Zoology Volume 5, Issue 4, 2019, PP 22-25 ISSN No. 2454-941X DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.20431/2454-941X.050404 www.arcjournals.org International Journal of Research Studies in Zoology Page | 22 Damage Caused by Rodents to Sugar Cane Varieties and Juice Quality in Sohag Governorate Desoky A.S.S 1* , Abazaid A.A 2 , Ali M.M.K 3 1 Plant Protection Department (Agricultural Zoology), Faculty of Agriculture, Sohag University, Egypt 2 Sugar Crops Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Egypt 3 Post Graduate Student, Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Sohag University 1. INTRODUCTION The world annual production from refined sugar is estimated by 85-90 million tonnes, approximately 60% is derived from sugar cane (Economist, 1981) with thirteen million hectares of cane harvested annually from approximately one hundred countries (FAO, 1979). Form the serious vertebrate pests attacking sugar cane plantations, rodents come first. In Egypt, rodents problem increased in the last few years. The main reasons for this increase are the intensification and diversion in agricultural system, lands reclamation and construction of new cities in the desert, and the wide use of pesticides for controlling agricultural pests which killed the natural enemies of rodents such as reptiles, and birds. Rats eat about 10% of their body weight each day and contaminate a great deal of food with their dropping and urine. Besides, they gnaw through almost any object in their path to obtain food and shelter (Dykstra, 1966). The annual loss caused by rodents was estimated by 5 to 8% in sugar cane yield, and it may reach 20% in severe infestation (Ibrahim, 1972): In other studies Abdel- Gawadet al. (1982) found in sugar cane fields highly infested with rodents in El-Minia Governorate, that rat damage reduced the sugar cane yield by 41.3% and total sucrose by 31.58%.Abazaid (1990) in his study on rodent damage to sugar cane in Upper Egypt found 20 to 40% reduction in yield and 30% in final sucrose in the infested stalks of sugar cane. In sugar cane plantations the average percentage of damage stalks was higher at the five meters beside the borders of the field (20.9%) and decreased gradually towards the field center (Ali, 1991)& Ali and Farghal (1994) found that the rat damage caused reduction in crop yield and percent of sucrose in sugar beet plantations in Sohag Governorate. Bakri- Eman (2004) in her study on rodents damage to six sugar cane varietiesproved that rodent damage reduced the juice quality of all varieties of Segar Cane in Sohag Governorate. Samson et al. (2013)proved that climbing rat damage Segar cane is often found in blocks beside harborage areas, Damage commonly extends from the edge of the block in for 15 meters. Reduce yields are similar to those caused by ground rats. El Rawy (2017) fond that the weight damage percentage at sugar cane in years of study show that the highest infested areas were Ber El-Nos by (5.94 and 5.15/Kg.) at the first and second yea respectively. However the lowest one were recorded in Al-Hasany district followed by Al shekwefy it were recorded [(5.29 and 4.64) and (5.57 and 4.91/Kg.)] at the first and second year respectively, in QeneGovernorate. Abstract: The damage caused by rodents to three sugar cane varieties was studied Injury of the Nile grass rat (Arvicanthisniloticus), house mouse,(MusMusculus). and the white bellied rat (Rattusrattusfrugivorus) was noticed at the base and the top of sugar cane stalks. The infestation in the main plants was much higher than that in first ratoon. Sugar cane varieties showed great variation in the rate of infestation by rodent. The G. 2003/47 variety was the least infested ones in both main plants and first ratoonfor all varieties tested, the infestation by rodent was found to cause a decrease in sucrose percent in juice and a decrease in the purity of juice. Keywords: Arvicanthisniloticus, MusMusculus, Rattusrattusfrugivorus, Sugar cane varieties, main plants, first ratoon *Corresponding Author: Desoky A.S.S, Plant Protection Department (Agricultural Zoology), Faculty of Agriculture, Sohag University, Egypt