Diagnosis and Control of Sugarcane Important Diseases

Abstract

There are more than 120 sugarcane diseases that have been found in the world presently (Chen 1982; Rott et al. 2000), and more than 60 have been reported in China (The important sugarcane diseases research cooperation group 1991; Lu et al. 1997; Huang and Li 2014, 2016). Mastering the disease types, damage, and distribution in the sugarcane area can provide scientific basis for the sugarcane disease-resistance breeding, quarantine of introduced varieties, and disease management and research. Sugarcane production areas in China have drought in winter and spring and hot climate and good rainfall in summer and autumn. With the rise of temperature in spring, in case of cold current as well as the rainfall and temperature decline and the poor management, planted sugarcane in winter and this season are easily infected by pineapple disease and the ratoon crops are easily damaged by red rot disease. Because the whole seedling stage is in the dry season, smut becomes substantial causing sparse breakup. After June, with the high temperature and humidity, eyespot, brown stripe, yellow spot, pokkah boeng, rust, ring spot, and leaf scorch diseases are easily occurring and epidemic. Especially in recent years, introducing seedcanes frequently and transposing seedcanes in sugarcane planting area make some dangerous seedcane-transmitted diseases (ratoon stunting disease, mosaic, smut, yellow leaf syndrome, etc.) which are spread by seedcane between sugarcane areas. Then, caused sugarcane diseases occur commonly and damage more severely; have a serious impact on sugarcane yield, quality, and ratooning capacity; and bring serious hidden trouble to the safe production of sugarcane. In order to scientifically control the spread and damage of sugarcane disease, enhancing the capabilities of disaster prevention and reduction and ensuring the quality of sugarcane variety and safety of sugarcane production in 20 diseases that commonly occur in sugarcane production are systematically described in this chapter with clear-colored photos and scientific, accurate words. The content includes the occurrence and damage, identification of symptoms, characteristics of epidemic infection, and control measures.