Influence of whip smut (Sporisorium scitamineum) infection on quantitative parameters of sugarcane cultivars

Abstract

Whip smut is one of the most prevalent diseases in almost all sugarcane growing regions of the world. To find out the quantitative losses to sugarcane caused by Sporisorium scitamineum, trials were conducted during the crop season 2014/15 and 2015/16 at sugarcane section, Agriculture Research Institute Tandojam, Pakistan. A total of 104 cultivars of different origins were grown in split plot design with 6 replications. A significant reduction in cane height by 34.33%, cane girth by 18.26%, millable canes by 28.87% and yield per hectare by 41.61% was observed. The most susceptible cultivar was CP-29-120, whereas, the most immune and productive variety was Hoth-318 with the mean yield of 153.33 ± 0.75 t/ha. The statistical analysis results showed highly significant (P = 0.000) impact of disease incidence on different cultivars. In the light of results obtained from the study, it can be concluded that smut disease can cause high reduction in all the quantitative parameters especially in millable canes and yield.