The two gumming diseases of sugar cane
| MSI99P0627 | |
| Antoine, R. | |
| The two gumming diseases of sugar cane | |
| Periodical article | |
| 1969 | |
| Proc. int. Soc. Sug. Cane Technol. | |
| 13: 1170-1179 | |
| En | |
| A historical review of the discovery of gummosis in various c ane sugar producing countries is given. It would appear that, although the first definite record of the disease dates back to 1869 in Brazil, gummosis was a major limiting factor to sugarcane cultivation as early as 1848 in Mauritius and perhaps even earlier in Reunion Island. The evolution of the epiphytotics in Mauritius and R eunion is described; distinction being made between the earlier epidemic, named gummosis I, which prevailed in commercial plantation in both islands up to 1948, and the new one, named gummosis II, which broke out in R eunion in 1958 and in Mauritius in 1964. Attention is drawn to the reappearance of leaf chlorosis as an expression of systemic infection, a symptom which was encountered in the past, but had apparently disappeared in intervening years. After the outbreak of the new epidemic in Reunion, it was important to find out whether the disease was due to a n ew strain of the bacterium. Strain differentiation studies on the pathogen were initiated in 1960. With the reappearance of gummosis in Mauritius in 1964, isolates were obtained from infected old noble canes in the variety collection and from newly infected, hitherto resistant varieties, in commercial plantations. Comparative studies led to the conclusion that a new strain Xanthomonas vasculorum was responsible for the second epidemic of gummosis in Mauritius. Host reaction to the new strain of the pathogen, with reference to leaf chlorosis, systemic infection and yield losses are described. The postulate that gummosis couuld have been originally a disease of palms and had subsequently passed to the sugarcane is discussed in the light of more recent knowledge. It is concluded that there is no convincing evidence to support the theory. Control measures applied in Mauritius since the beginning of the new epidemic are described. It is concluded that, as varieties resistant to both strains of the pathogen have been released and that susceptible varieties are being gradually replaced, the total area under resistant varieties having risen from 31 per cent to 51 per cent in less that three years, the situation is well in hand and the eradication of this major threat to the sugar industry can be once more envisaged with confidence. | |
| SUGARCANE GUMMOSIS XANTHOMONAS VASCULORUM DISEASES BACTERIAL DISEASES | |
| MAURITIUS | |
| Sugarcane: Diseases and disease management | |
| Bacterial diseases: Gumming | |
| 1992-03-05 | |
| En | |
| Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute | |
| LIB | |
| CAT | |
| PATH |