Red Rot of Sugarcane:

Description:

  • One of the oldest & widely distributed in Punjab & Sindh

History and Importance:

  • First reported from Java in 1883
  • In sub-continent in 1906

Etiology:

Causal organism: Colletotrichum falcatum

Order: Melanconiales

Family: Melanconiaceae

Symptoms:

  • Yellowing and dropping of 3rd or 4th leaf from the top
  • Midrib of leaves is also affected producing red patches with ash colored center having abundant fungal growth.
  • Infected canes are lighter in weight and are easily broken.
  • If split open longitudinally especially when withering of leaves starts, pith is found reddened.

Disease cycle:

  • Fungus survive in soil & on planting material
  • Ratoon*( cutting most of the above-ground portion but leaving the roots and the growing shoot apices*(growing points) intact so as to allow the plants to recover and produce a fresh crop in the next season) crop may also help in disease development
  • Rain, irrigation water, wind & insects also spread the disease

Epidemiology:

  • 27-30°C & High RH
  • Humid and warm weather, water logged conditions, lack of proper cultural operations resulting in weeds, continuous cultivation of same variety in a particular locality and presence of susceptible varieties in the vicinity are the main factors determining the epidemic development of the disease.

Management:

  • Crop rotation for two years
  • Seed setts should be free from disease or treated with solution of Benelat for 1 hr
  • Residues should be burn after harvest
  • Ratoon crop discouraged if first crop infected
  • Resistant thick canes varieties, particularly e.g. CP-77-400, SPF-24O, 237, CPF 72-2O86 etc.
  • Treat sets with Formaline solution (1:20), or Benomyl, for10-15 minutes and cover them with wet gunny bags for 3 hours.

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