Sugarcane
Sugarcane is an important cash crop of Pakistan. It is mainly grown for sugar and sugary production. It is an important source of income and employment for the farming community of the country. Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.), an old energy source for human beings and more recently is a replacement of fossil fuel for motor vehicles. Sugarcane occupies area of 20.42 million ha with a total production of 1333 million tons. Sugarcane area and productivity differ widely from country to country. Brazil has highest area (5.34 million hectare) while Australia has highest productivity (85.1 t ha-1). The largest producers are Brazil, India, China and Pakistan accounting more than 50% of world production. Sugarcane is the second largest cash crop of Pakistan and is being cultivated on 0.966 million hectares contributing around 3.6 % of Gross domestic production (GDP).
GRASSY SHOOT DISEASE
The Grassy shoot disease of sugarcane was first observed by BARBER (1919). Then first report was GSD reported in India 1940s and it was appear Thailand in Mid-1990s.
Sugarcane grassy shoot disease (SCGS), caused by small, parasitic bacteria, contributes to losses of 5% to 20% in the main crop of sugarcane, and these losses are higher in the ratoon crop. A higher incidence of SCGS has been recorded in some parts of Southeast Asia and India, resulting in 100% loss in cane yield and sugar production.
1. GRASSY SHOOT:
Symptoms:
1. This is caused by Phytoplasma, and vector of this disease is aphid.
2. Infected plant produces larger number of thin leaved tillers like grass so known as grassy shoot.
DISTRIBUTION
It is a newly discovered Phytoplasma disease of sugarcane in Thailand and the symptoms of Grassy Shot Disease of Sugarcane is also observed in Pakistan since last 2 years. The sugarcane Phytoplasma disease now spread widely & it has been recorded as a major disease in Asian countries such as Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka & Vietnam.