Sugar-Cane Diseases of Potential Importance in East Africa

Abstract

Four major diseases of sugar-cane are at present found in Southern Africa, Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands and are of potential importance in East Africa. The diseases are leaf scald, gumming disease, chlorotic streak and Fiji Disease. Exclusion of the diseases from East Africa depends on effective plant quarantine procedures and on the observance of import regulations. The control of outbreaks is discussed with reference to short- and long-term measures. The former consist of attempts to eradicate the pathogen with attempts at isolation should this fail. Long-term measures involve chemical and cultural control practices where these are known to be effective, together with the use of resistant varieties.