Sugarcane Disease found in crop
Pastor Dale Morgan
Sugarcane Disease found in crop*
December 16, 2006 11:43am
Article from: AAP
AUSTRALIA - FURTHER outbreaks of a fungus disease that could devastate
the one billion dollar sugar industry have been found in north Queensland.
However, the Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations is calling for calm
following the most recent discovery of sugarcane smut.
Farmers found the latest outbreak in a cane field west of Ingham
yesterday, ABC Radio reported.
It is the northernmost discovery of the fungus disease, Bureau of Sugar
Experiment Stations spokesman Patrick Russell said.
"It certainly does not have to be destroyed, growers will be able to
grow that cane out and it will be able to be harvested," he said.
"There is no need for anyone to panic, to do anything rash, we just need
to monitor how big an outbreak this is and at this stage and from our
initial surveys, it is a very minor outbreak."
Sugarcane smut is a highly infectious disease that can seriously reduce
yields by at least 30 per cent.
The fine black powder of fungal spores is harmless to humans and
animals, so does not affect processed sugar.