Pineapple disease in sugarcane cultivation is a common occurrence in India. The disease has been reported to cause 15-20 per cent losses in sett germination and 10-15 tonne losses per hectare in yield. In India, the disease has been reported from all major sugarcane growing states.

Recently the disease has been found in serious proportion in sugarcane plantations at Girwali village in the Tahasil Ambajogai, district breed of the Marathwada region, Maharashtra.

Germination loss

Survey reports revealed about 85-90 per cent losses in germination of the sugarcane setts. The disease is caused by a fungus which is soil borne and the name “pineapple” disease has been derived due to the scent / odour produced by rotting / decaying sugarcane setts, which is similar to the scent of ripped pineapples.

The fungus affects sugarcane setts primarily within one week of planting and infects mainly through cut ends and spreads rapidly.

Occasionally, the disease occurs in standing crop in patches giving uneven field appearance of the crop. The stalks of the standing cane if damaged mechanically or physically are also prone to it. The fungus spreads rapidly throughout the standing canes, foliage turns yellow and ultimately canes wither. Ratoon crops may also be affected.

Management

Maintain good field hygiene and sanitation. Use healthy setts with at least three nodes obtained from disease-free fields for rapid germination.

Grow resistant / tolerant varieties. Maintain proper drainage in field. Avoid injury / damage to setts. Avoid too deep planting.

Treat the setts with organomereurial fungicides before planting, to protect the cut-ends from invasion by the fungus.

Pre-treat the setts with hot water which will stimulate germination of buds, hasten growth and overcome the competition with the pathogen.

Application of press mud at the rate of 25 tonnes per hectare one week before planting can significantly reduce the sett rot and increase the number of tillers, millable canes and cane yield also.