Smut Disease of Sugarcane
Sporisorium scitamineum
Sugarcanefungal
A widespread fungal disease producing a long, curved black whip-like structure from the growing point.
Symptoms
A long, curved, black, whip-like structure emerges from the growing point of infected stalks.
Favorable conditions
- •Infected seed cane
- •Warm, dry conditions favoring spore spread
Management
- 1Plant resistant varieties
- 2Hot-water or fungicide treat seed cane
- 3Remove and destroy smutted plants before the whip ruptures
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