DISEASE INCIDENCE: REGIONAL VARIATION IN QUEENSLAND

DISEASE data have been collected by Cane Productivity Service personnel on a mill area and regional basis in the sugar industry since the mid-1960s. These data have not previously been analysed in detail. In this paper, regional incidence of sugarcane diseases is highlighted and the implications discussed. Analyses showed some diseases are spread right through Queensland and occur regularly-these include brown rust, pineapple disease and chlorotic streak. Others have a very restricted occurrence-these include striate mosaic (Burdekin), sugarcane mosaic (southern) and Fiji leaf gall (southern). Some minor diseases are also principally found in just a few areas (Sclerophthora: mainly southern and a little in the central district; yellow spot: mainly far northern but some in the Herbert; basal stem rot (BSR): from the Burdekin south). The paper also lists the most common diseases for each region in order of area affected. Chlorotic streak is seen to be, in almost every case, the most widely reported disease occurring in the Queensland industry. Pachymetra root rot is a noted exception in the data since it has a very wide occurrence through the Queensland industry, but is not reported. Pachymetra root rot is the disease likely to affect the greatest area of sugarcane of all the diseases listed.