Incidence, severity and distribution of sugarcane diseases in Nigeria. I. Southern Guinea Savannah zone

Surveys were conducted to four States and the Federal Capital Territory (FC T) Abuja in the Southern Guinea Savannah zone of Nigeria to determine the r eaction of local sugarcane clones to diseases. The incidence severity and t he distribution of sugarcane smut (Ustilago scitamines Sydow), red rot (Glo merella tucumanensis (Speg) Arx and Muller) (Colletotrichum falcatum Went), sugarcane leaf blast (Didymosphaeria taiwanensis Yen and Chi) and Sugarcan e Mosaic Virus (SCMV) were assessed on 104 farms in the zone. The highest L I. scitaminea incidence of 37.17% was recorded on sugarcane farms in Niger State, while Kwara State had only 24.62%. G. tucumanensis had the highest i ncidence on cane farms in Benue State (28%), while the least (16%) was reco rded in Plateau State. D. taiwanensis was low in all the surveyed areas (9- 16%). SCMV incidence of 6% occurred on cane farms in Plateau State. Smut an d red rot were observed in 92% and 76.9% of the total cane fields visited r espectively, while blast was only 19.2% and found in three of the five area s surveyed. SCMV was found in only one farm in Plateau State (0.96%). Ratoo n crops and the purple canes were the most susceptible to smut than plant c rops. Red rot was also more prevalent on the purple canes. The incidence, s everity and the distribution of these diseases are discussed in this report .