SUGARCANE SMUT

Abstract

Smut (Ustilago scitaminea Syd.) is a well-known disease of sugarcane having been reported from India, Java, Formosa, the Philip- pines, Natal, Mauritius, Queensland, Italy, and British Guiana (1). It is principally a disease of the wild cane Saccharum spontaneum (1) and those canes which most nearly approach the wild varieties are more susceptible than the noble canes, though the thicker tropical canes are by no means immune (2). The causal organism is also reported to occur on grasses which may be a source of infection (2). It is reported (1) as very severe on Uba and other varieties of the Saccharum sinense group. Some varieties are considered to be immune, Earle mentions Badilia as being one of these, but in the S. Arcot District in South India Badila has recently proved to be susceptible.