Ac. Wada et al., Incidence, severity and distribution of sugarcane diseases in Nigeria. I. Southern Guinea Savannah zone, DIS INNOVAT, 11(1-2), 1999, pp. 33-39
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
.