The influence of brown rust (Puccinia melanocephala) on sugarcane yield

• Published in: Phytopathology Vol. 98; no. 6; p. S211
• Main Authors: Hollier, CA, Hoy, J W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.06.2008
• Subjects: Puccinia melanocephala
• ISSN: 0031-949X

Brown rust, caused by Puccinia melanocephala, is a major disease in sugarcane in many areas of the world. Yield losses have been estimated at 10-20 percent under good growing conditions and up to 50 percent where growing conditions were poor or the disease was unusually severe. In Louisiana, brown rust was first detected in 1970's and could be found annually at varying levels of severity. It was not until 2000 that the disease was considered yield limiting, but losses due to brown rust had not been measured therefore yield loss field studies were implemented to determine the impact of common rust on the local crop. Fungicide treatments controlled brown rust each year of the three-year study. The amount of yield loss was affected by the time of occurrence and duration of the epidemic. Significant yield losses were demonstrated when rust was controlled throughout the epidemic period or during mid- and late-epidemic. Yield losses relative to the "disease-free" check over the three-year study were 17 percent in cane tonnage and 18 percent in sucrose production. Yield reduction was due to stalk weight and a slight stalk population decrease.