Bagasse disease refers to a fungal infection that affects sugarcane plants, resulting in significant damage to the crop. Bagasse disease is caused by the pathogen Phoma exiqua. This disease primarily affects the stalks of the sugarcane plant, particularly during periods of high humidity and warm temperatures.
The symptoms of bagasse disease include the appearance of brown to black lesions on the surface of the stalks. As the infection progresses, these lesions expand and coalesce, leading to a decrease in the structural integrity of the stalks. This can cause the stalks to weaken, resulting in lodging, or the breaking and bending of the stalks, rendering the entire plant susceptible to further infections and yield reduction.
Bagasse disease not only affects the physical health of the plants, but it also reduces the quality of sugarcane crops. Infected sugarcane stalks often have decreased sucrose content, which directly impacts the sugar recovery during processing.
To manage bagasse disease, various preventive and control measures are implemented. These include the use of disease-free seedlings, regular crop rotation, controlling environmental conditions that favor pathogen growth, and applying appropriate fungicides. Additionally, maintaining good agricultural practices, such as proper irrigation and nutrient management, helps enhance the plants' resistance against bagasse disease.
Efforts to control this disease are crucial as sugarcane is a vital crop worldwide, serving as a primary source of sugar and bioethanol production.
