Wilt disease is one of the most significant constraints on global sugarcane production, resulting in significant yield losses. The disease is caused by a soil-borne fungus that attacks the vascular system of the sugarcane plant, causing wilting, stunting, and eventually mortality. The symptoms include leaf yellowing and drying, stunted growth, and premature plant mortality. Identification of wilt disease is essential for effective management.
Preventative measures such as seed treatment, crop rotation, and soil moisture maintenance can help reduce the disease’s incidence. For the management of sugarcane wilt disease, chemical, biological, natural, and organic control methods are available. Integrated disease management strategies combining multiple control measures are recommended for effective disease control.
Wilt Management in Sugarcane
The Causal Organisms of Wilt Disease
Cephalosporium sacchari, a soil-borne fungus belonging to the Deuteromycetes class, Moniliales order, and Moniliaceae family, causes wilt disease in sugarcane. The pathogen can be identified by observing erect and branched conidiospores and abundant macroconidia that are falcate, 3-5-septate, have a distinct foot cell, and measure 3.4-5.2 mm in size.
The blastoconidia of the pathogen are straight or slightly curved, 2-3-septate, fusiform to lanceolate, with a somewhat pointed, frequently slightly asymmetrical apical cell and a truncated basal cell, and they range in size from 3.0-4.5 mm.
The Disease Cycle of Wilt Disease
The fungus-caused wilt disease is transmitted through infected seedlings and can persist in the soil for two to three years. The fungus generates hyaline, thin-walled, and septate hyphae that produce ovoid to elliptical microconidia. The pathogen is distinct from Fusarium because it lacks macroconidia. Conidia germinate to form germ tubes. The fungus can infect branches, resulting in wilting and poor root formation in infected setts. The pathogen favors near-neutral and alkaline soils, but its optimal life stage is unknown.
Causes/Conditions Favorable for Wilt Disease in the Field
Symptoms of wilt disease appear during or after the monsoon season, and fungi penetrate plants primarily through wounds caused by pests such as root borer, termites, scales, and mealybugs. In addition to drought, waterlogging, high temperatures, and low humidity also impair the resistance of plants to wilt. These biotic and abiotic stresses make plants susceptible to wilt disease.
Symptoms of Wilt Disease
- After four to five months of plant growth, wilt disease symptoms manifest the gradual withering of canes and yellowing/drying of foliage.
- Longitudinal streaks with discolored purple or dirty reef pith.
- White cottony mycelium in the pith region with an offensive odor.
- Linked to saprophytic bacterial growth and frequently mistaken as causal agents
- After the development phase, the disease manifests as yellowish-green leaves that become brittle and dry at the base.
- Crowns become white or yellow with a delicate green blade.
- Internodes of afflicted canes are stunted, lighter in weight, and hollow, whereas nodes and buds are unaffected.
- Internal nodal tissue is dark red to purple upon longitudinal sectioning above the growth ring.
- Severe conditions significantly reduce yield.
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Percentage of the Yield Loss Due to Wilt Disease in Sugarcane
Wilt disease in sugarcane causes significant declines in sett germination, number of tillers, millable cane, cane yield, juice content, and cane moisture. The percentage of yield loss ranges from 39.9% to 51.2%. In comparison, other factors, such as moisture and fluid content, vary by 42.8% to 59.2% and 49.6% to 58.6%, respectively. The disease can have a devastating effect on sugarcane crop yields.
Wilt Management in Sugarcane by Cultural Method
- Cultural methods can help manage wilt disease in sugarcane
- Use healthy seeds from disease-free areas and resistant varieties
- Treat setts with fungicides before planting, preferably organomercurial fungicides
- Avoid growing sugarcane in alkaline soils
- Manage root borers and prevent prolonged drought or waterlogging
- Practice hygienic measures to prevent the spread of the disease.
Wilt Management in Sugarcane by Biological Method
- Sugarcane wilt can be managed using biological control agents such as Trichoderma, Bacillus subtilis, and Pseudomonas fluorescens.
- According to studies, Trichoderma and Bacillus subtilis reduced disease incidence.
- Inoculating setts with Pseudomonas fluorescens increased sugarcane yield by 22.4%.
- These biological control methods are environmentally benign, economical, and compatible with other management practices.
Wilt Management in Sugarcane by Chemical Method
The chemical management of sugarcane wilt disease is limited, and no chemical treatment has proven entirely effective. However, immersing setts in a solution containing 40 ppm boron or manganese, or spraying plants with these trace elements, can reduce the severity of the disease. For effective disease management, it is essential to use an integrated strategy that combines chemical measures with preventive measures and biological treatments.
Wilt Management in Sugarcane by Organic/Natural Method
Organic control methods for sugarcane wilt disease consist of treating seedlings with hot air at 54ยฐC for 150 minutes and then dipping them in a 0.1% bleach solution for 10 minutes. It is essential to observe appropriate hygiene and safety measures, such as wearing gloves and protective goggles and stopping from reusing the vessel for household purposes. These measures may help reduce the disease’s prevalence in sugarcane fields.
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Preventive Measures for Control of Wilt Disease
- Use certified disease-free seeds or transplants from reliable sources
- Practice crop rotation with non-host plants to avoid the build-up of the disease in the soil
- Avoid excessive use of nitrogen fertilizer, which may increase susceptibility to wilt disease
- Take precautions to avoid injuries to plants during field operations
- Ensure proper drainage to avoid water logging, which may predispose the plants to wilt disease
- Dispose of old plant debris and infected plant material after harvest to reduce the source of inoculum for the next crop
- Adopt hygienic practices, such as sterilizing equipment and tools between operations.
Conclusion
Wilt significantly threatens sugarcane production, resulting in substantial yield losses. Effective preventative measures include early identification of symptoms, disease-free seedlings, crop rotation, biological control, and organic methods. Chemical interventions lack efficacy. Sugarcane wilt can be managed through a combination of preventative and control measures.
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