SUGARCANE

DISEASES
MANAGEMENT
AND CONTROL
Overview of Sugarcane

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) is a tall, perennial grass

belonging to the Poaceae family. It is primarily grown for its
high sucrose content, making it the world’s leading source of
sugar. Apart from sugar production, sugarcane is also used for
bioethanol, jaggery, molasses, and fodder.

Importance of Sugarcane in India

India is the second-largest producer of sugarcane after Brazil,

contributing significantly to the country's agriculture and
economy. Sugarcane cultivation supports:

Over 50 million farmers directly

The sugar industry, which employs millions in processing and

trade

Ethanol production as part of India’s biofuel policy

Major Sugarcane-Producing States in
India

The top sugarcane-growing states include:

1. Uttar Pradesh – India’s largest sugarcane producer

2. Maharashtra – Known for high sugar recovery

3. Karnataka – A major contributor in South India

4. Tamil Nadu – Produces high-quality jaggery and ethanol

5. Bihar, Gujarat, Punjab, and Andhra Pradesh – Significant

contributors
Climate and Soil Requirements

Sugarcane thrives in tropical and subtropical climates, requiring:

 Temperature: 20°C to 35°C for optimal growth

 Rainfall: 1000–1500 mm annually or irrigation support in

dry areas

 Soil: Well-drained, loamy soil with a pH between 6.5 and

7.5

Sugarcane Growth Stages

1. Germination Stage (0-45 days): Sprouting of setts (cuttings)

2. Tillering Stage (45-120 days): Multiple shoots emerge

3. Grand Growth Stage (120-270 days): Cane elongation and

sucrose accumulation

4. Maturity Stage (270-365 days): Sugar content reaches its

peak

Challenges in Sugarcane Cultivation

 Diseases and Pests (Red rot, smut, borers, termites)

 Declining soil fertility due to monocropping

 Water scarcity in drought-prone regions

  Fluctuating sugar prices affecting farmer income

Role of Sugarcane in Sustainability

Sugarcane contributes to sustainable agriculture through:

 Ethanol production, reducing dependency on fossil fuels
 Bagasse-based electricity generation
 Zero-waste utilization (molasses for biofuels, press mud for
fertilizers)

SUGARCANE DISEASES
 GRASSY SHOOT
 RED ROT
 PINEAPPLE DISEASE
 SUGARCANE SMUT
 SEREH

1. GRASSY SHOOT
CAUSAL AGENT:
The disease is caused by a phytoplasma. These
organisms infect the phloem tissues in the sugar
cane vascular bundles.
SYMPTOMS:
(a) Infected plants products larger number of
thin lived tillers like grass so known as grassy
shoot.
(b) The tillers are small and yellowish white in
color.

Control measure:
1.Plant only disease- free cuttings.
2. Sugarcane smut
disease
“Also called Culmicolous smut and whip smut.”

Causual organism
Ustilago scitaminea

Symptoms
(a) Two to four months of after the fungus has
infected the plant, black whip like structures,
instead of a spindle leaf, emerge from the
meristem, or growing point, of the plant.
(b) The developing whip is mixture of plant tissue
and fungal tissue.
(c) Plants infected with the fugus usually appear to
have thin stalks and are often stunted.
(d) They end up tillering much more than normal
and this result in leaves that are more slender and
much wearker.
Control Measures:
1. Rogue out diseased shoots or stools.

2. Select healthy planting material.

3. Treat Planting stock with a protectant fungicide.

4. Avoid ratooning of affected cane fields.

5. Rotate sugarcane with a resistant crop.

6. Plant resistant varieties.

3. Red rot
Causal Agent:
Colletotrichum falcatum

Symptoms:
a) Longitudinal reddening of the normally white
internal tissue of the internodes

b) A discoloration, that may extend through many

joints of the stalk,

c) Poor stands of both plant and ratoon crops,

d) Induces inversion of sucrose in mature crops.

Control Measures
1. Plant resistant cultivars.

2. Plant the crop when conditions are optimal for

rapid germination and maintain proper soil
moisture.

3. Use only healthy cane for seed pieces.

4. Harvest susceptible cultivars before they have

passed the peak of maturity.
5.Practice crop rotation, with an alternate crop at
the end of the planting and rotooning cycle.
4. Pineapple
disease
Casual Agent:

Ceratocystis paradoxa

Symptoms:

1. Pineapple disease primarily affects sugarcane

setts in the first weeks of planting. The fungus
infects the setts mainly through the cut ends and
from there spreads rapidly through the
parenchyma. Infected tissue first becomes
reddened; the parenchyma then breaks down and
the interior of the setts become hollow
2. In the early stages of the rotting, the strong odour
of overripe pineapples is often present and may help
in diagnosing the disease.

3. Pineapple disease can result in crops having a

patchy, uneven appearance. When severe, the disease
may seriously reduce the germination over large
areas.

4.Pineapple disease may occur in stalks of the

standing cane if the stalks are mechanically or
physically damaged, such as by boring insects or rats.
Control Measures
1. A cutting of not less than three nodes should be
made to protect the center node.

2. For sets a temperature of 32-38 degree Celsius with

normal soil cover is favorable for germination.

3. Protect the end of seed pieces with a fungicide

such as tilt or Benlate at 25 mg/ml.
5) Sereh
Sereh Virus is transmitted through cuttings.

Symptoms
1. Severe disease transform the cane stool into a
bunchy tuft of shoots which cease to grow after
reaching a certain height.

2. Usually these stools are of different heights.

3.Secondary shoots arising from the basal buds are

similarly affected.

4.In some stools, taller stalks may develop with

shortened internodes near the top, and leaves formed
in a fanlike arrangement.

Control measure:

1. Plant resistant cultivars.

2. Plant certified, disease-free seed cane.

 3. Avoid ratoon crops.

Insect Pests

1. Termites
2. Pink Sugarcane mealy bug

3. Sugarcane borer
4. Top Borer

5. Root Borer
6. Armyworm

7. Indian sugarcane leaf hopper

8. Sugarcane white fly

 9. White wooly aphid

10. Field Cricket

Vertebral Pests of
Sugarcane:
1. Rats

2. Wild pig
 3. Porcupine

RATS
✓ Rats are the major animal which destroy sugarcane
crop very badly. Rats have been reported to partially
damage 8.6% -12.8%.

Control:

Mechanical method:

• Use kill trap

• Snap trap
• Tanjore bore trap

• Wooden trap

• Iron based trap

• Wonder trap

Chemical method:

 Fumigation of burrows with aluminium phosphide

tablets.

• Use of baits of zinc phosphide bromadiolone.

Wild Pig

✓ Pigs also destroy sugarcane field.

 ✓ They are control by the following ways

1-poisioning

2-trapping

Porcupine

✓ Porcupines destroy the stems of sugarcane.

✓ To control the porcupine destruction in sugar cane

field use two methods

1-bait material

2-trapping
 Weeds

✓ Itsit

Trianthema spp.

✓ Bathu

Chenopodium album

✓ Kandyaree

Sonchus spp.

Khabbal grass
Cynodon dactylon

✓ Deela

Cyperus rotundus
 Control Measures:

1. Hoeing and weeding operations must start within a

month after the planting of the crop.

2. One blind hoeing (hoeing before the crop

germinates) and two to four subsequent hoeings are
generally necessary depending upon the intensity of weed
growth and soil type.

3. The last hoeing is usually done when the crop

attains a height of about one meter.
4.A deep-working hand tool such as a spade
or kasola is used.

5. Irrigation should follow immediately.

 6. Control of weeds whether done manually or with
the help of herbicides, result in an increase in tillering of
about 25 percent.

Integrated Disease
Management (IDM)

A. Cultural Practices

Use certified disease-free seed.

Rotate crops with legumes or paddy.

Remove and burn infected plants.

Maintain proper drainage.

 B. Biological Control

Trichoderma spp. against fungal diseases.

Bacillus subtilis for bacterial infections.

Use mycorrhizal biofertilizers.

C. Chemical Control

Seed Treatment: Carbendazim (0.1%), Thiram (0.2%).

Foliar Spray: Copper oxychloride (0.3%), Mancozeb

(0.2%).
Soil Treatment: Lime application to control pH.
 Uttar Pradesh:
Conditions for sugarcane cultivation
Uttar Pradesh (UP) is the leading sugarcane-producing state in
India, contributing significantly to the country's total sugarcane
output. The state's agro-climatic conditions are generally
favorable for sugarcane cultivation. Here are key aspects of
sugarcane cultivation conditions in UP:

1. Climate

Temperature: Ideal range of 21°C to 35°C.

Rainfall: Annual rainfall of 1000–1200 mm, mostly during the

monsoon (June–September).

Humidity: Moderate to high, which supports crop growth.

Frost Risk: Can be a problem in winters, affecting late-planted

crops.
2. Soil Conditions

Type: Loamy, clay-loam, and alluvial soils are most suitable.

Fertility: UP soils are rich in organic matter but require proper

nutrient management.

Drainage: Well-drained soils are essential to prevent

waterlogging, which can cause root diseases.

3. Water Availability & Irrigation

Major Irrigation Sources:

Canal irrigation (Ganga, Yamuna, and their tributaries)

Tube wells & bore wells

Irrigation Requirement: Critical during dry spells; needs 1500–
2500 mm of water during the growing season.

4. Cropping System & Plantation Method

Sowing Time:

Autumn Planting: September–October (preferred for high

yield).

Spring Planting: February–March.

Harvesting Time: November to April, depending on the variety.

Cropping Pattern: Often intercropped with wheat, mustard, or

pulses.
5. Major Sugarcane Varieties in UP

Early Maturing: Co-0238, CoJ-64, Co-0118

Mid & Late Maturing: CoS 08272, CoS 767, CoS 8436

6. Challenges in Sugarcane Cultivation in

UP

Diseases: Red rot, Grassy shoot disease, Pineapple disease.

Pests: Top shoot borer, termites, white grub.

Declining Soil Health: Due to excessive chemical use.

Water Scarcity: In some regions, groundwater depletion affects
irrigation.

Pricing & Payment Issues: Farmers often face delays in

payments from sugar mills.

7. Government Support & Research Institutes

Research Institutes

Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research (IISR), Lucknow

UP Council of Sugarcane Research, Shahjahanpur

Government Schemes
Sugarcane Development Program (subsidies for fertilizers &
biofertilizers).
Drip Irrigation Subsidy under PMKSY for water conservation

Red Rot Disease (Colletotrichum

falcatum) – The "Cancer of Sugarcane"

Case Study:

In Meerut, UP (2021–22), Red Rot caused a 30% yield loss in the

Co 0238 variety.
Affected fields showed drying of leaves, internal red streaks,
and a foul smell in canes.

The disease spread due to ratooning infected crops and lack of

disease-free seed cane.

Management Strategies:

Farmers switched to Co 98014 (Red Rot resistant) variety.

Use of carbendazim (0.1%) sett treatment before planting.

Burning infected canes and deep plowing to prevent fungal

spread.

Grassy Shoot Disease (GSD) – Caused by

Sugarcane Phytoplasma
Case Study:

In Sitapur (2022), 15% of sugarcane fields showed severe bushy

growth and lack of cane formation.

The disease was linked to aphid infestations and infected seed

material.

Management Strategies:

Use of tetracycline (500 ppm) sett treatment reduced infection

rates.

Farmers adopted hot water treatment (50°C for 30 minutes)

before planting.
Insecticide sprays controlled sucking pests that spread the
disease.

Pineapple Disease (Ceratocystis

paradoxa) – Sett Rot Problem

Case Study:

In Lakhimpur Kheri (2023), sugarcane setts showed poor

germination and a sour pineapple odor.

The problem was severe in waterlogged fields.

Management Strategies:

Use of well-drained fields and raised bed planting reduced

disease impact.
Pre-planting fungicide treatment (thiram 0.2%) prevented sett
infection.

Farmers preferred early planting in dry conditions.

Case Study: Sugarcane Smut Disease in

Uttar Pradesh

Introduction

Sugarcane smut, caused by Sporisorium scitamineum, is a

serious fungal disease affecting sugarcane production in Uttar
Pradesh (UP). The disease reduces yield and sucrose content,
leading to economic losses.

Case Study: Smut Outbreak in Western Uttar Pradesh

(2022-23)

Location:
District: Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh

Affected Varieties: Co 0238, Co 86032

Area Affected: ~8,000 hectares
Observations: Case Study: Sugarcane Smut Disease in
Uttar Pradesh.

Initial Symptoms: Farmers noticed thin, weak canes

with excessive tillering.

Severe Cases: Black whip-like fungal structures emerged

from the cane tops, leading to stunted growth.

Yield Loss: Farms reported a 15-20% reduction in yield

and lower sucrose content.

Spread Factors:
Use of infected seed material.
Continuous ratooning without proper disease control.
Favorable weather (high humidity, temperatures around 25–
30°C).

Disease Management Strategies

Adopted
A. Cultural and Preventive Measures:
Farmers were advised to destroy infected plants immediately to
prevent further spread.
Use of certified smut-free seed canes was promoted.
Crop rotation with non-host crops (like wheat and pulses) was
implemented.

B. Chemical Control:
Hot Water Treatment (52°C for 30 minutes) was introduced to
treat seed cane before planting.
Sett treatment with fungicides:
Carbendazim (0.1%)
Propiconazole (0.2%)

C. Adoption of Resistant Varieties:

The UP Sugarcane Research Institute (Shahjahanpur)

recommended Co 0118 and Co 98014 as smut-resistant
varieties.

Many farmers switched to these varieties in the next planting

cycle to avoid future outbreaks.

3. Outcome and Impact

The adoption of disease-resistant varieties reduced smut
incidence by 70% in the following season (2023-24).
Yield recovery: Farms that implemented management strategies
saw a 15% increase in yield compared to affected areas in the
previous year.
Government and sugar mills encouraged farmer training
programs on disease identification and prevention.

Case Study: Sereh Disease in Uttar Pradesh

Introduction

Sereh disease, leads to excessive tillering, stunted growth, and

poor cane formation, severely impacting sugarcane yields in
Uttar Pradesh (UP).

1. Case Study: Sereh Disease Outbreak in Eastern Uttar Pradesh

(2022-23)

Location:
Districts Affected: Sitapur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Bahraich

Varieties Affected: Co 0238, Co 05011

Area Affected: ~6,500 hectares

Observations:

Early Symptoms: Farmers observed excessive tillering and

narrow leaves with a grass-like appearance.

Severe Cases: Plants failed to form proper cane stalks, leading

to 60-70% yield loss in infected fields.

Spread Factors:

Use of infected seed material.

High population of leafhopper insects, which spread the
disease.

Frequent ratooning without seed replacement.

Disease Management Strategies

Adopted

A. Seed Treatment & Cultural Control:

Farmers were advised to destroy infected plants immediately to

prevent disease spread.

Hot Water Treatment (50°C for 30 minutes) was introduced to

treat seed cane before planting.
Crop rotation with non-host crops like paddy and mustard was
recommended to break the disease cycle.

B. Chemical & Biological Control:

Sett treatment with tetracycline (500 ppm) before planting

significantly reduced infection rates.

Insecticide sprays (imidacloprid, acetamiprid) were used to

control leafhoppers, the main vectors of the disease.

Neem-based biopesticides were also promoted as eco-friendly

alternatives.

C. Use of Resistant Varieties:

The UP Sugarcane Research Institute (Shahjahanpur)
recommended the use of Co 98014 and Co Pant 97222, which
showed better resistance to GSD.

Many farmers gradually shifted to resistant varieties in the next

cropping cycle.
Outcome and Impact

After adopting these management practices, the incidence of

Sereh disease was reduced by 65% in the following season
(2023-24).

Yield improvement: Farmers who implemented disease control

measures reported 20-25% higher cane yield compared to
untreated fields.

Sugar mills and government agencies increased awareness

campaigns and farmer training programs to ensure better
disease prevention in future seasons.

Conclusion:

Sugarcane diseases pose a major threat to crop yield, quality,

and overall profitability. Effective disease management requires
an Integrated Disease Management (IDM) approach, combining
resistant varieties, cultural practices, biological control, and
chemical treatments.
Prevention is better than cure – Using certified disease-free
seed, crop rotation, and sanitation can significantly reduce
disease outbreaks.
Early detection and rapid action – Removing infected plants
and adopting hot water treatment, seed treatment, and vector
control can minimize disease spread.
Adoption of resistant varieties – Planting Red Rot- and
Smut-resistant varieties like Co 98014, Co 0118, and Co Pant
97222 can help sustain yield.
Farmer education and government support – Awareness
campaigns, training, and research-driven policies are essential
for long-term disease control.