Smut (fungus) - Sugarcane Smut

Sugarcane Smut

Sugarcane smut or Ustilago scitaminea Sydow is caused by the fungus Sporisorium scitamineum; previously known Ustilago scitaminea. The smut 'whip' is a curved black structure which emerges from the leaf whorl, that aids in the spreading of the disease. Sugarcane smut causes significant losses to the economic value of a sugarcane crop. Sugarcane smut has recently been found in the eastern seaboard areas of Australia, one of the world's highest-yielding sugar areas.

For the sugarcane crop to be infected by the disease, large spore concentrations are needed. The fungi uses its smut-whip to ensure that the disease is spread to other plants, which usually occurs over a time period of three months. As the inoculum is spread, the younger sugarcane buds just coming out of the soil will be the most susceptible of all the crops. Because water is necessary for spore germination, irrigation has shown to be a factor in spreading the disease. Therefore special precautions need to be taken when irrigated the areas of the crop to prevent spreading of the smut.

Another way to prevent the disease from occurring in the sugarcane is to use fungicide. This can be done by either pre-plant soaking or post-plant spraying with the specific fungicide. Pre-plant soaking has been proven to give the best results in preventing the disease, but post-plant spraying is a practical option for large sugarcane cultivations.