Symptoms
A long black whip-like structure curls out of the growing point, releasing masses of sooty black spores. Infected stools are grassy, thin and stunted with little usable cane.
Prevention
Plant resistant varieties and hot-water-treated, disease-free seed cane. Rogue out and burn whip-bearing stools before the spores spread.
Treatment
Organic
Remove infected whips carefully (cover with a bag first) and destroy them away from the field. Maintain vigour and avoid ratooning badly infected stands.
Chemical (last resort)
Treat seed cane with a triadimefon or propiconazole dip before planting. There is no effective field-spray cure, so clean seed and roguing are key — observe PHI.
Affects 1 crop
Sources
MARDI Sugarcane Production Guide; DOA IPM Manual