YELLOW spot is a disease of the wet tropics. Although recognised in Australia
since 1950, there has been little attention to the incidence and yield losses
caused by the disease in Australia. Research conducted in the Tully Mill area in
2005 aimed to determine the severity of the disease across the district, and
record severity data so that cane farmers in the area could make important
decisions in relation to the disease; future yield loss estimates also depend on
quantitative incidence data. The disease was assessed during May 2005 at the
end of the wet season when maximum disease levels prevailed. Higher disease
levels were found in some of the wetter areas, while the lowest disease levels
were in the Murray Upper district (the driest area).