Important Diseases of Sugarcane

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Important Diseases of Sugarcane

1. Whip smut                          
2. Red – rot
3. Rust                                    
4. Twisted top
5. Grassy shoot                                  
6. Mosaic

1. Whip Smut:

Symptoms:

1. Whip smut of sugarcane is a fungal disease caused y  Ustilago sacchari.
2. A long whip like structure is developed from the apex of the stalk.
3. It is covered by silvery white thin coating after rupturing blackish spores.
4. This disease stops the further growth of plant and reduces the yield upto 30%.

C. M:

1. Remove the whip with thick cloth without allowing the spore to shed and destroy.
2. Use disease free sets for planting.
3. Treat the sets with hot water or 6% OMC fungicide or bavistin.
4. Do not take ratoon of the affected crop.
5. Grow disease resistant varieties like – CO – 7219, COM – 7125 etc.

2. Red-rot:

Symptoms:

1. It is a fungal disease caused by Colletotricum falcatum.
2. Infected plant shows withered leaves and shriveled cane.
3. The split cane gives alcoholic smell and shows red tissues with white cross bands.

C. M:

1. Use disease free sets for planting.
2. Remove all withered plants.
3. Avoid rationing of affected crop.
4. Do not grow cane crop in affected field for next 3 to 4 years.
5. Grow disease resistant varieties.

3. Rust:

Symptoms:

1. Initially orange coloured pustules are appeared on the lower surface of the leaves.
2. Later on these pustules enlarge and turn brown.

C. M:

1. Grow disease resistant varieties.
2. Spray 0.05% zirem.
3. Avoid over irrigation.

4. Grassy Shoot:

Symptoms:

1. This is mycoplasma (virus) disease of sugarcane ad spread by aphids.
2. Infected plant produces larger number of thin leaved tillers like grass so known as grassy shoot.
3. The tillers are small and yellowish white in colour.

C. M:

1. Uproot and destroy the affected clumps.
2. Use disease free sets for planting.
3. Give hot water treatment 50 0 C for 2 hours.
4. Control aphids by spraying insecticides.

5. Twisted Top and Mosaic :

 These are viral diseases.

C. M:

1. Remove and destroy affected stalk.
2. Grow disease resistant varieties.
3. Use disease free sets for planting.

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