Observations on the incidence, effects and control of ratoon stunting disease

Ratoon stunting disease (RSD) has been regarded as a major disease of sugarcane since it was reported by Steindl (1950). Symptoms of RSD had been observed as early as 1945 in the variety Q28 in the Mackay area. The disease was subsequently confirmed to be present in all cane-growing areas of Australia and in most cane-growing countries. The objective of this paper is to examine the nature and effectiveness of control methods which have now been in place for some 35 years and to look at alternatives.