Sugarcane Crop Diseases

A Presentation To IPM
Course/FFS Participants
By
Mr. Allah Dad Khan
Provincial Coordinator IPM KPK
For MINFAL Pakistan

Pakistan

Sugarcane Mosaic
Mosaic symptoms in sugarcane are currently associated

with four diseases that are caused by several viruses (Rott

et al. 2008). These diseases are the following:
Mild mosaiccaused by Sugarcane mild mosaic
virus (SCMMV).
Streak mosaiccaused by Sugarcane streak mosaic
virus (SCSMV).
Striate mosaiccaused by Sugarcane striate mosaicassociated virus (SCSMaV).
Mosaiccaused by Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV)
and Sorghum mosaic virus (SrMV).

Symptoms
Mosaic is identified primarily by its leaf symptoms. As with most

sugarcane diseases, the symptoms may differ in intensity with the

sugarcane variety, growing conditions, and the species or the strain of the
virus involved. In Florida, however, only SCMV has been identified so far.
The most distinctive symptom is a pattern of contrasting shades of green,
often islands of normal green on a background of paler green or yellowish
chlorotic areas on the leaf blade (Figure 1). Generally, the chlorotic areas
are diffuse, but they may be sharply defined in some sugarcane clones
infected with certain strains of the virus. The infection may be
accompanied by varying degrees of leaf reddening or necrosis. Chlorotic
areas are most evident at the base of the leaf. Chlorotic areas may also be
present on the leaf sheath but rarely on the stalk. Young, rapidly growing
plants are more susceptible to infection than more mature, slowergrowing plants.

Leaves showing contrasting shades of green

characteristic of sugarcane mosai

Sugarcane Red Rot Disease

Red rot is one of the oldest known diseases of sugarcane. It occurs in

most cane-growing countries. Although it continues to be a threat in

certain subtropical countries, it is of little concern to the Florida
sugarcane grower

Sugarcane Red Rot Disease

SYMPTOMS
Red rot occurs in various parts of the cane

plant but it is usually considered a stalk and a

seed-piece disease. Its symptoms are highly
variable depending upon the susceptibility of
the sugarcane variety and the environment.
Symptoms may not be readily apparent in the
field, especially in the early stages of the
disease. In the later stages of the disease, red
rot may cause standing cane to "break down"

Brown Stripe Disease

Minute water spots quickly turn reddish

brown and elongate parallel to the midrib of

leaves infected by the fungus Cochliobolus
stenospilus, the causal agent of brown stripe
disease. The long, narrow stripes, with
straight ends and a yellow halo, may reach 75
mm at maturity

Sugarcane Yellow Leaf Disease

Symptoms
Symptoms of SCYLV are a yellowing of the

leaf midrib on the underside of the leaf. The

yellowing first appears on leaves 3 to 6
counting down from the top expanding
spindle leaf (Figure 1). Yellowing is most
prevalent and noticeable in mature cane from
October until the end of harvest in March.
The yellowing expands out from the leaf
midrib into the leaf blade as the season
progresses until a general yellowing of the
leaves can be observed from a distance
(Figure 2). Eventually, almost all leaves of
the plant turn yellowish. Cold and nutrient
stress appear to intensify the symptoms.

Leaf scald
Xanthomonas albileneans
Symptoms
White "pencil line" extending the entire

length of leaf lamina; etiolated leaves; leaf

tips drying out resulting in a scalded
appearance
Cause
Bacterium
Comments
Disease emergence favored by water stressed
plants
Management
The most effective method of preventing the
disease is to plant resistant sugarcane
varieties; treatment of seed cane with hot
water to clean the material prior to planting
can help to prevent the disease

Sugarcane smut disease

Ustilago scitaminea
Symptoms
Stunted growth of sugarcane stools; profuse
production of tillers; shortened internodes;
stems thin with narrow, erect leaves; black
whip-like structure emerging from terminal
bud

Cause

Fungus

Comments
Disease transmitted through infected setts and
by wind

Management
The disease can be successfully controlled by
planting varieties of sugarcane which are
resistant to the disease; disease can usually be
eliminated from seed pieces by hot water
treatment prior to planting; infected plants
should be removed

Set rot/ Pineapple disease

Ceratocystis paradoxa
Symptoms
Setts not rooting; central soft portion of set has

red discoloration which turns brown-black;

cavities in infected internodes; In older canes
leaves may be yellowing and plant appears
withered; cut stem has a strong smell of
pineapple

Cause

Fungus

Comments
Primarily a disease of setts; fungus enters cut
ends of stem or through other wounds

Management
The most effective method of managing the
disease is through the use of resistant
sugarcane varieties; if planting varieties that
are susceptible to the disease then plant them
in dry, well-draining soils

Eye spot Helminthosporium sacchari

Symptoms
Small water-soaked spots on leaves;

elongated water-soaked spots in shape of an

eye; straw colored lesions with reddish
brown center develop from water-soaked
lesions
Cause
Fungus
Comments
Disease emergence favored by cloudy
weather, high humidity and low night
temperatures or wet leaves from
precipitation or irrigation
Management
Disease can be controlled through the
application of appropriate foliar fungicides

Stem canker (Cytospora sacchari) Butl.

Symptoms:

The disease causes wilting of canes. The

affected canes show drying of leaves from top
to bottom. The cane stems are shrivelled with
considerable reduction in quantity and
quality of juice. Small black dot-like bodies of
disease causing fungus may develop on bud
sheaths and hollow portions of canes.
Sometimes only a few internodes are
affected, but whole stool or only a few canes
in a stool may also be affected.

WHIP SMUT (Ustilago scitaminea) Syd.

Symptoms:

The affected canes produce long, black whiplike and coiled or curved shoots, which are
covered with a thin silvery membrane,
containing masses of chlamydospores of the
fungus. The smutted shoots may arise from
the top of the cane or from lateral buds. Later
on that membrane ruptures and releases a
multitude of spores, which contaminate soil
and the standing crop. In certain cases, the
infected plants remain stunted in growth
with increased tillering of little value. The
diseased plants are unfit for use.

Leaf spot (Helminthosporium spp.)

Symptoms:

The disease may be characterised itself on

leaves as small lesions, which gradually
enlarge along mid rib and assure dark red to
brown colour. In severe infection, the leaves
become dry affecting photosynthesis

3.

Wilt Cephalosporium sacchari

Symptoms
Wilt symptoms usually appear after

monsoon. Infected clumps, individually or

collectively, show stunting and yellowing of
top leaves. In severe cases, whole clump
dries, cane becomes hollow and lighter in
weight. Red discolouration in internodes is
more intense towards nodes which do not
emit specific odour

Grassy shoot
Mycoplasma like organism (MLO)

Symptoms
A large number lean and lanky, pale sprouts

in the clump appear like a 'bunchy grass'. Nor

mal stalks are not formed.

Brown Rust Of Sugarcane

Foliar lesions of brown spot, caused by the fungus Cercospora longipes.

Mancha caf de la hoja, causada por el hongo Cercospora longipes.