Data from: Prior sugarcane borer damage does not impact conspecific damage or perennial crop yield in subsequent years of growth

In perennial sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) agroecosystems, herbivory by lepidopteran stem borers like the sugarcane borer (SCB; Diatraea saccharalis (F.)) early in a growing season can increase the probability of conspecific herbivory later in the crop year. However, it is unknown if the effects of prior stem borer damage either to vegetatively propagated seed cane or standing plants can impact conspecific herbivory in ratoon growth following annual aboveground biomass harvest. Using the multiyear harvest cycle of Louisiana sugarcane, we conducted two field experiments and an analysis of a long-term dataset to evaluate if prior SCB damage increased levels of conspecific damage in subsequent crop years. In the first field study, we evaluated if SCB damage to whole stalk and billet seed cane decreased tiller emergence, aboveground biomass, fiber, and sucrose in the following two years of plant growth (i.e., plant cane and first ratoon). In the second field study, we evaluated the impacts of SCB damage sustained during different combinations of crop years on subsequent SCB damage and plant metrics as well as potential mechanisms mediating herbivore damage (i.e., nutrients and biological control potential). Finally, using a long-term dataset, we evaluated if SCB damage accrued during plant cane impacted the probability of conspecific damage in the first ratoon.

在多年生甘蔗（*Saccharum* spp.）农业生态系统中，生长季早期由鳞翅目茎螟——例如甘蔗螟（SCB，*Diatraea saccharalis*（F.））——造成的植食危害，会提升该作物年度后期发生同种植食危害的概率。然而，此前针对无性繁殖种蔗或现存植株的茎螟危害，是否会影响年度地上生物量收获后宿根生长阶段的同种植食危害，目前尚不明确。

本研究依托路易斯安那州甘蔗的多年度收获周期，开展了两项田间试验，并对长期数据集进行分析，以验证前期甘蔗螟危害是否会提升后续作物年度的同种危害程度。

第一项田间试验中，我们评估了整茎及蔗段种蔗遭受甘蔗螟危害后，是否会降低后续两年生长周期（即新植蔗与首季宿根蔗）的分蘖出苗率、地上生物量、纤维含量与蔗糖含量。

第二项田间试验中，我们评估了不同作物年度组合下发生的甘蔗螟危害，对后续甘蔗螟危害程度与植株性状的影响，以及调控植食危害的潜在机制（即养分含量与生防潜力）。

最后，我们借助长期数据集，分析了新植蔗阶段累积的甘蔗螟危害是否会提升首季宿根蔗发生同种危害的概率。