Due to the usually high population levels of ectoparasitic nematodes associated with sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) Northeastern Brazil, the effect of the systemic nematicide Terbufos (Counter 50G) was studied, on first ratoon, in soil naturally infested with Helicotylenchus dihystera, Criconemella ornata and Paratrichodorus minor. The experimental design consisted of completely randomized blocks with treatments factorially arranged in 2x3x5 (two harvest periods x three nematicide doses x five sugarcane varieties), with five replicates. Nematicide doses consisted of 3 kg a.i./ha, applied at planting and immediately after first cutting, 4 kg a.i./ha, applied at planting and control, 0 kg a.i./ha, distributed into 2.0 m x 2.0 m microplots. Evaluations based on nematode population densities were carried out on five varieties, CB45-3, RB813804, SP78-4764, SP79-1011 e SP 70-1143, at plant and first ratoon harvest. There was no interaction among nematicide, variety and harvest time. Results showed nematicide doses and sugarcane varieties did not affect significantly nematode population levels. However, in contrast to H. dihystera, population densities of C. ornata and P. minor were significantly lower at ratoon than plant harvest.
