south african sugarcane research institute pest & … · red stripe/top rot/false red stripe...

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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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Causal organism•Bacterium:Leifsonia xyli subsp xyliSymptoms•Noobviousexternalsymptoms•Diseasedstoolsbecomestunted,fieldmayhaveanunevenappearance

•Somevarietiesmayhavered-browndotsandstreaksatthebaseofnodesinslicedstalks

Notes on the disease•SamplesfromfieldssuspectedtobeinfectedshouldbesenttoSASRIfordiagnosis

Ratoon stunt (RSD) !

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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 !

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Causal organism•Virus:Sugarcane mosaic virusSymptoms•Mottledleaves(usuallydarkgreenislandsonapalegreenbackground)

•Infectedstoolsmayhaveayellow-greenappearanceNotes on the disease•Symptomsmostobviousatthebaseofyoungleaves

Mosaic !

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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) !

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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

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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 !

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Causal organism•Bacterium:Xanthomonas axonopodis pv vasculorumSymptoms•Strawcolouredstreaksfromleafmargins•Leafchorosis(whitening)Notes on the disease•Mostcommoninareasofhighhumidity

Gumming

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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 !

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Sesamia calamistis (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae)Identification•Pinklarva,lessactivethaneldana•DoesnotmovebackwardsSymptoms•Causes‘dead-hearts’inyoungcane•Spindlepullsouteasily,mayhavefoulodour•ExitholesobservedneartopoftillerComments•Minorpestcontrolledbynaturalenemies•MaybeconfusedwithwhitecolouredBusseola

Sesamia !

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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

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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

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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

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Spodoptera exempta (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae)Identification•Larvaegreenandblackwithagreenundersideandlongitudinalwhitestripes

Symptoms•YoungcanemaybecompletelydefoliatedComments•Caterpillarsmoveinlargegroups•Outbreaksmayoccurinlatesummer,caneusuallyrecovers

Army worms

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Marasmia trapezalis (Lepidoptera:Crambidae)Identification•Greenish-yellowlarvawithbrownheadcapsuleSymptoms•Leafbladesfolded•Singlelarvainsiderolledleafwithinsectfrassandsilkstrands•Transparentstripingonopenleaf,whichmayturnredComments•Controlledbyparasitoids

Leaf folder moths

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Variousspecies(Homoptera:Aphididae)Identification•Soft-bodiedinsects•OftenfoundonthelowersurfaceoftheleafSymptoms•Leavesmaydevelopredflecksafterfeeding,similartomitedamage

•Sootymouldmaydeveloponaphidhoney-dewComments•Somespeciesspreadplantdiseases

Aphids

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Variousspecies(Acarina)Identification•Microscopic•FinewebsonlowersurfaceofleavesSymptoms•Fineredfrecklingonleaves•Fieldsmayhavegeneralred-brownappearance,similartorustComments•Mostcommonduringdryperiods

Mites

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Macrotermes natalensis (Isoptera)Identification•Softbodied,creamcoloured,resemblingantsSymptoms•Duringforaging,mayattackcaneatsoillevel•Tunnellingmaybeobservedtowardsthebaseofstalks•MaycausestalkstocollapseComments•Inhabitsubterraneannests

Termites

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Meloidogyne, Xiphinema, Pratylenchus, ParatrichodorusIdentification•Microscopicworm-likeorganismsSymptoms•Cropsshowstunted,unevengrowthand‘spikey’leaves•Rootssparse,shortandstubbywithswellingsandgallsComments•Damagetendstobemostsevereonsandysoils•Laboratorytestsofsoilandrootsampleswillconfirmthepres-enceofdamagingnematodes

•Managedwithnematicides

Nematodes

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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