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Pest & DiseaseGuide
SOUTH AFRICAN SUGARCANERESEARCH INSTITUTE
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Ratoon stunt (RSD)
Smut
Mosaic
Yellow leaf/Leaf yellows
Maize streak
Fiji leaf gall
Pokkah boeng
Leaf scald
Gumming
Red stripe/Top rot/False red stripe Sour rot
Red rot
Pineapple sett rot
Basal stem rot
Brown rust
Tawny rust
Orange rust
Brown spot
Ring spot
Yellow spot
Red leaf spot
Eye spot
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DISEASES
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Ratoon stunt (RSD)
Smut
Mosaic
Yellow leaf/Leaf yellows
Maize streak
Fiji leaf gall
Pokkah boeng
Leaf scald
Gumming
Red stripe/Top rot/False red stripe Sour rot
Red rot
Pineapple sett rot
Basal stem rot
Brown rust
Tawny rust
Orange rust
Brown spot
Ring spot
Yellow spot
Red leaf spot
Eye spot
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DISEASES
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INSECT PESTS Eldana
Sesamia
Chilo
Sugarcane thrips
White grubs
Locusts
Trash caterpillars
Army worms
Remedial action may be required (Sugar Act, 1978). Contact your Extension Specialist, your local Biosecurity Officer or the SASRI
biosecurity hotline (083 561 2781)
Leaf folder moths Aphids
Mites
Termites Nematodes
Longhorn Beetle Yellow sugarcane aphidFall armyworm
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4850
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5658
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64666870727476
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Causal organism•Bacterium:Leifsonia xyli subsp xyliSymptoms•Noobviousexternalsymptoms•Diseasedstoolsbecomestunted,fieldmayhaveanunevenappearance
•Somevarietiesmayhavered-browndotsandstreaksatthebaseofnodesinslicedstalks
Notes on the disease•SamplesfromfieldssuspectedtobeinfectedshouldbesenttoSASRIfordiagnosis
Ratoon stunt (RSD) !
55
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Causal organism•Fungus:Sporisorium scitamineumSymptoms•Thin,elongatedstalksdevelopbeforewhipemergence(incipientwhips)
•Darkbrown,whip-likestructuresemergefromthetopofinfectedstalksandsideshoots
•Severelyinfectedstoolsdegenerateintoclumpsofgrasslike,unmillableshoots
Notes on the disease•MostcommoninthenorthernpartsofSouthAfrica•Warm,drywintersfavouroutbreaksinspring
Smut !
77
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Causal organism•Virus:Sugarcane mosaic virusSymptoms•Mottledleaves(usuallydarkgreenislandsonapalegreenbackground)
•Infectedstoolsmayhaveayellow-greenappearanceNotes on the disease•Symptomsmostobviousatthebaseofyoungleaves
Mosaic !
99
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Causal organism•Virus:Sugarcane yellow leaf virus•Phytoplasma:Sugarcaneleafyellows phytoplasmaSymptoms•Yellowtoyellow-reddiscolourationofthemidrib•Yellowingmayextendintotheleafblade•YellowingmostobviousonthethirdtosixthleafNotes on the disease•Symptomsusuallyexpressedinmaturing,stressedcane•Symptomsseldomexpressedundergoodgrowingcon-ditions,caneappearshealthy
Yellow leaf/Leaf yellows !
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Causal organism•Virus:Maize streak virusSymptoms•Elongated,spindle-shaped,chlorotic(white)lesions•Lesionsare1-20mmlongx1-2mmwidebutmayjointoformlongerandthickerstripesontheleafblade
•Lesionsvisibleonbothupperandlowerleafsurfaces•LesionsmaybevisibleontheleafsheathNotes on the disease•NotifySASRIBiosecurityiffound
Maize streak (MSV) !
1313
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Causal organism•Virus:Fiji disease virusSymptoms•Whitetocreamcolouredgallsonthelowerleafsurface,2-50mmlong
•Distortedtops•Newleavesshortenedanderect•StuntingNotes on the disease•Apartfromthepresenceofleafgalls,symptomsmaybesimilartopokkahboeng
•NotifySASRIBiosecurityiffound
Fiji leaf gall !
Not present in South Africa
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Photo:DrRMagarey(SRA,Australia)
Photo:DrRMagarey(SRA,Australia)
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Causal organism•Fungus:Various Fusarium sp.Symptoms•Mildchlorosis/bleachingatthebaseofyoungleaves•Wrinkled,twistedandshortenedyoungleaves•Distorted,sometimesblackenedspindle•Side-shooting,stalkdeathduetodeathofgrowingpoint•Ladder-likelessionsontherind•‘Knifecuts’onstalksmayresultinstalkdamageNotes on the disease•Favouredbyhot,wetconditionswhencanegrowthislikelytoberapid
•Maybeconfusedwithherbicidedamage
Pokkah boeng
1717
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Causal organism•Bacterium:Xanthomonas albilineansSymptoms•Narrow,sharplydefinedwhitepencillinesonyoungleaves
•Leafchorosis(whitening)•Leavesappearwithered(scalded)andcurlinwards•Basalsideshoots•SuddenstalkdeathmayoccurNotes on the disease•Morecommoninnorthernirrigatedareas•NotifySASRIBiosecurityiffound
Leaf scald !
1919
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Causal organism•Bacterium:Xanthomonas axonopodis pv vasculorumSymptoms•Strawcolouredstreaksfromleafmargins•Leafchorosis(whitening)Notes on the disease•Mostcommoninareasofhighhumidity
Gumming
2121
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Causal organism•Bacteria:Acidovorax avenae subsp avenae,
Xanthamonas spSymptoms•Redstripesontheleafblade•Acidovoraxmaycauserottingofthespindleandtopofthestalk
Notes on the disease•Unpleasantodourmaybeassociatedwithrotting•Favouredbywarm,moistweather
Red stripe/Top rot/False red stripe
2323
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Causal organism•Fungus:Phaeocytostroma sacchariSymptoms•Orange-redrottingofinternalstalktissue•Orangetoblackdiscolourationoftherind•Rindmayhaveroughappearanceduetoblackfruitingstructures/pustules
•DistinctsourodourNotes on the disease•Commoninmature,drought-stressedcaneintheMid-lands
•Mayresultinsubstantialsucroselosses
Sour rot
2525
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Causal organism•Fungus:Glomerella tucumanensisSymptoms•Elongatedredlesionsontheleafmidrib•Internalreddeningofthestalktissue•WhitepatchesmaybeobservedwithinreddenedtissueNotes on the disease•Usuallyassociatedwithborerdamageandcracks•MorecommonintheMidlands
Red rot
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Causal organism•Fungus:Ceratocystis paradoxaSymptoms•Poorgermination•Internalreddiscolourationofinfectedsetts,blackinthecentre
•CharacteristicfruityodourNotes on the disease•Commonwhengrowingconditionsarepoorandgermi-nationisslow
•Heattreatedseedcanemaybecomeinfectedifgermina-tionisdelayed
•Registeredfungicidesavailable
Pineapple sett rot
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Causal organism•Fungus:BasidiomyceteSymptoms•Stuntedgrowth,poortillering•Reddish-brownrottingatthebaseofshoots•Whitefungalgrowtharoundandbetweenbasalleafsheaths
Notes on the disease•Mostcommoninyoungcaneinspringandearlysummer
Basal stem rot
3131
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Brown rustCausal organism•Fungus:Puccinia melanocephalaSymptoms•Brownlesions,2-20mmlongx1-3mmwide•Brownsporesusuallyonthelowerleafsurface•Affectedfieldshaveorange-browncolouring•LesionsoftenclusteredneartheleaftipNotes on the disease•Mostcommononyoungcane,3-6months•Favouredbycool,moistconditions•Maycauseseriousyieldlosswhensevere•Registeredfungicidesavailable
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Tawny rust (previously African sugarcane rust)
Causal organism•Fungus:Macruropyxis fulva Symptoms•Brownlesions,2-20mmlongx1-3mmwide•Orangesporesonbothlowerandupperleafsurfaces•Affectedfieldshaveorange-browncolouring•LesionsoftenclusteredneartheleaftipNotes on the disease•Observedoncaneofanyage•Appearstobefavouredbycool,moistconditions•Islikelytocauseseriousyieldlosswhensevere•Orangesporeseasilytransferredontoclothes•Registeredfungicideavailable
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Causal organism•Fungus:Puccinia kuehniiSymptoms•Orangetoorange-brownlesions,3-8mmlongx1-2mmwide•Orangesporesusuallyonlowerleafsurface•Affectedfieldshaveorange-browncolouring•Lesionsoftenclusteredtowardsthemiddleorbaseoftheleaf
Notes on the disease•Mostcommononcane>6months•Favouredbywarm,humidweather•Cancauseseriousyieldlosswhensevere•NotifySASRIBiosecurityiffound
Orange rust !
Has not been observed on sugarcane in SA
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Photo:DrRMagarey(SRA,Australia)
Photo:DrKBraithwaite(SRA,
Australia)
Photo:SSood,USDA-ARS,Florida
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Causal organism•Fungus:Cercospora longipesSymptoms•Reddishbrowntodarkbrownlesions,upto15mmlongx3mmwide
•Lesionsareovalwithayellowhalo,visibleonbothleafsurfaces
Notes on the disease•Mostcommoninsummer
Brown spot
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Causal organism•Fungus:Leptosphaeria sacchariSymptoms•Irregularshapedlesions,10mmormoreinlength•Lesionsstraw-colouredtobrown,usuallywithadarkbrownmargin
•Smallblackfruitingbodiesusuallyvisiblewithinmaturelesions
•LesionsvisibleonbothleafsurfacesNotes on the disease•Occursthroughouttheyear•Usuallyvisibleonolderleaves
Ring spot
4141
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Causal organism•Fungus:Mycovellosiella koepkeiSymptoms•Irregularshapedlesionsupto10mmindiameter•Lesionsinitiallyyellowbutlaterturnbrickred•LesionsvisibleonbothleafsurfacesNotes on the disease•Favouredbycool,moistconditions
Yellow spot
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Photo:S.Saumtally-MSIRI
Photo:S.Saumtally-MSIRI
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Causal organism•Fungus:Dimeriella sacchariSymptoms•Lesionsround,upto12mmindiameter•Lesionsusuallyonlyvisibleontheupperleafsurfaceandtendtoclusterneartheleaftip
•Lesionsmorecommonontheolder(5thand6th)leavesNotes on the disease•Favouredbywarm,humidweather
Red leaf spot
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Causal organism•Fungus:Bipolaris sacchariSymptoms•Lesionsareoval,1-6mmlongx1-3mmwide•Maturelesionsarereddish-brownwithyellow-brownmargins
•Reddish-brownrunnersextendfromthelesiontowardstheleaftip
Notes on the disease•Favouredbycool,wetweather•NotcommoninSouthAfrica
Eye spot
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Eldana saccharina (Lepidoptera:Pyralidae)Identification•Active,brown,leatherylarva•MovebackwardsandforwardsSymptoms•Insectfrass(faeces)indicatespresentinstalk,usuallyinlowerthird
•Boringsobservedwhenstalkssplitopen•TissuearoundboringsusuallyredComments•Majorpestcausingeconomiclossoveralargearea•Ifdetected,actionrequired•Entersstalkthroughsoftbudscales
Eldana !
4949
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Sesamia calamistis (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae)Identification•Pinklarva,lessactivethaneldana•DoesnotmovebackwardsSymptoms•Causes‘dead-hearts’inyoungcane•Spindlepullsouteasily,mayhavefoulodour•ExitholesobservedneartopoftillerComments•Minorpestcontrolledbynaturalenemies•MaybeconfusedwithwhitecolouredBusseola
Sesamia !
5151
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Chilo sacchariphagus (Lepidoptera:Crambidae)Identification•StripedlarvaSymptoms•Shot-holesthroughtheleaves•Side-shootingonstalk•Redborings,usuallytowardstopofstalkComments•MajorsugarcanepestinMozambique•PosesamajorbiosecurityrisktoRSAsugarindustry•Looksthesameasmaizeborer(C. partellus),distinguishedusingDNAanalysis
Chilo !
Not present in South Africa
5353
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Fulmekiola serrata (Thysanoptera:Thripidae)Identification•Adult:darkbrowntoblack,1mmlong•NymphscolourlesstoyellowwithredeyesSymptoms•Leaftipstiedtogether,becomedryandtwistedlater•YellowtowhitepatchesonopenleavesComments•Foundbyunrollingspindleleaves
Sugarcane thrips
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Variousspecies(Coleoptera:Scarabaeidae)Identification•Larvae:brownheadcapsule,softC-shapedbodywithwhitish/grey-white,fleshyabdomen
•Beetleshardshelled,reddishbrowntoblack,19to25mmlongSymptoms•Canemayturnyellow,stuntedandpatchy,mayyieldandratoonpoorly
•Rootpruningmaybeobserved,someadults(Heteronychus licas)damagethebaseofstalksresultingindeadhearts
Comments•Foundbydiggingunderneathstools
White grubs
5757
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Variousspecies(Orthoptera:Acrididae)Identification•TypicalinsectwithenlargedhindlegsSymptoms•FeedsonleafmarginsComments•Infestationsusuallyoccurduringsummer•Outbreakstriggeredbydryperiodsbeforegoodrainsinsummer
Locusts !
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Variousspecies(Lepidoptera:Noctuidae)Identification•Caterpillarsstriped,withlightanddarkshadesofbrown-greySymptoms•Youngcanemaybecompletelydefoliated•FrassobservedatthebaseofplantsComments•AttackleavesofyoungratoonsfromApriltoNovember•Larvaefeedatnightandshelterunderthetrashblanketduringtheday
Trash caterpillars
6161
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Spodoptera exempta (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae)Identification•Larvaegreenandblackwithagreenundersideandlongitudinalwhitestripes
Symptoms•YoungcanemaybecompletelydefoliatedComments•Caterpillarsmoveinlargegroups•Outbreaksmayoccurinlatesummer,caneusuallyrecovers
Army worms
6363
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Marasmia trapezalis (Lepidoptera:Crambidae)Identification•Greenish-yellowlarvawithbrownheadcapsuleSymptoms•Leafbladesfolded•Singlelarvainsiderolledleafwithinsectfrassandsilkstrands•Transparentstripingonopenleaf,whichmayturnredComments•Controlledbyparasitoids
Leaf folder moths
6565
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Variousspecies(Homoptera:Aphididae)Identification•Soft-bodiedinsects•OftenfoundonthelowersurfaceoftheleafSymptoms•Leavesmaydevelopredflecksafterfeeding,similartomitedamage
•Sootymouldmaydeveloponaphidhoney-dewComments•Somespeciesspreadplantdiseases
Aphids
6767
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Variousspecies(Acarina)Identification•Microscopic•FinewebsonlowersurfaceofleavesSymptoms•Fineredfrecklingonleaves•Fieldsmayhavegeneralred-brownappearance,similartorustComments•Mostcommonduringdryperiods
Mites
6969
Macrotermes natalensis (Isoptera)Identification•Softbodied,creamcoloured,resemblingantsSymptoms•Duringforaging,mayattackcaneatsoillevel•Tunnellingmaybeobservedtowardsthebaseofstalks•MaycausestalkstocollapseComments•Inhabitsubterraneannests
Termites
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7171
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Meloidogyne, Xiphinema, Pratylenchus, ParatrichodorusIdentification•Microscopicworm-likeorganismsSymptoms•Cropsshowstunted,unevengrowthand‘spikey’leaves•Rootssparse,shortandstubbywithswellingsandgallsComments•Damagetendstobemostsevereonsandysoils•Laboratorytestsofsoilandrootsampleswillconfirmthepres-enceofdamagingnematodes
•Managedwithnematicides
Nematodes
7373
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Cacosceles newmannii (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)
Identification•Larvaeyellowishtocreamywhite,upto9cmlong.Darkbrownheadcapsulewithdistinctmandibles
•Pupaesoftbodied,encasedinsoilcocoonbelowstool•Adult:tantodarkbrown,males~47mmwithlargemandibles,females~35mm
Symptoms•Largeboredtunnelsinstoolbelowgroundand~20cmintoabove-groundstalk
•Stunted,lodgedstalkseasilypulledfromground,brownleavesanddeadhearts
Control measures•Ploughoutcanecropimmediatelyafterdetectionfollowedbyatleastoneyearfallowperiod
Longhorn Beetle
74Major indigenous pest currently localised in Entumeni area.
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Siphaflava(Hemiptera:Aphididae)
Identification•Nymphsandadults:yellow,oftenstrawcoloured•Adults:1-2mm,usuallywinglessbutwingedfemalesmayoccur•Nymphs:winglessandsmallerthanadults
Symptoms•Feedonundersideofleaf,causingleafyellowing/reddening,withbrownish-redpuncturemarks
•Prolongedfeedingcausesdeathofmostlythirdtofifthgreenleavesbelowstalkgrowingpointleadingto~20%yieldloss
•Youngplants<1mhighmostsusceptible,butolderplantscanbeseverelyinfested
Comments•Scoutfieldsbeforespraying(registered)insecticide•Onlysprayifnaturalenemies(e.g.ladybirds)arenotcontrollingpopulations
•Commercialvarietiesdifferinresistance(leafdamage)
Yellow sugarcane aphid (YSA)
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Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Identification•Larva:Lightgreentoalmostblackwithstripes.Headcapsulehasalight-colouredinverted“Y”
Symptoms•Larvafeedsonyoungest(spindle)leavesattopofplant,resultingin‘shothole’damagetotheseleaveswhentheyunfurl
•Doesnotboreintogrowingpoint
Comments•FoundonsugarcaneinSouthafricabutextentofdamageunconfirmed
• InsecticideshaveprovisionallybeenregisteredonsugarcaneinSouthAfricatocontrolanyoutbreaksandpreventspread
Fall armyworm
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Notes
Notes
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Published by
South African Sugarcane Research Institute 170 Flanders Drive, Mount Edgecombe, 4300
Tel: (031) 508 7400 Fax (031) 508 7597 SASRI biosecurity hotline : 083 561 2781
Website: www.sasri.org.za
ISBN: 1-874903-39-5
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Updated 2018