Which Disease is known as the Cancer of Sugarcane?

Agriculture is a major contributor to many countries' economies, and sugarcane is an important crop for sugar, jaggery production and for supplying green energy. Farmers, however, face a fungal disease known by experts as the "cancer of sugarcane". This disease can devastate an entire field in no time and has a negative impact on sugar recovery and agricultural markets in general.

What Is the Cancer of Sugarcane?

The so-called cancer of sugarcane is the disease called Red Rot that is caused by a fungus known as Colletotrichum falcatum (its teleomorph is Glomerella tucumanensis). The name of the disease highlights the fact that just like cancer affects living creatures. This disease kills the plants from inside, spreads through the body and often cannot be treated when it has already infected the field.

Key Symptoms to Watch For 

To be able to reduce the damage caused to the crop by the red rotting fungus, growers should recognize both the external indications and internal injuries:

• Yellowishness and the quick drying up of upper leaves from the bottom.

• The slow growth of plants and early wilting.

• The feature of reddish color of internal tissue and horizontally distributed white patches inside the stalk.

• The strong and bad smell of rotting parts of the plant. 

Reasons and Conditions for Favorable Situation

• The organism responsible for the disease primarily enters the plant via damaged areas, cracks, or through infected seed setts. Numerous environmental stimuli promote its dissemination:

• High soil moisture, heavy rainfall, high humidity and poor drainage of fields.

• The right temperature range is between 20 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

• Monoculture cultivation of sugarcane at the same place for a long time without proper crop rotation. 

Strategies for Prevention and Control 

Due to the complexity of treating an infected mature plant, agriculture officials stress the importance of Integrated Disease Management (IDM).

To secure crops, farmers are advised to use certified disease-free seed tubers, apply recommended fungicides like Carbendazim on the planting materials and observe rigorous crop rotation schedules with non-host crops like rice. 

This will contain the pathogen in the soil through prompt uprooting and burning of heavily infected crop remains. 

Red rot has justly earned itself the title of being the “cancer of sugarcane cropping.” The reason behind this is its stealthy mode of attack, which is not apparent until it is too late, even for seasoned cane-blocked farmers, causing them heavy financial losses along with reduced sugar recovery levels. However, even with this being said, a big outbreak is not inescapable. 

Implementing measures focusing on prevention such as using disease-free setts, annual crop rotation, and maintaining cleanliness in the field can help greatly minimize the impact of Colletotrichum falcatum.