Pacific Pests, Pathogens and Weeds - Online edition

Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds

Sugarcane eye spot (305)

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Photo 1. Reddish-brown elliptical spots with yellow margins, caused by the sugarcane eyespot fungus, Bipolaris sacchari. Notice the yellow 'runners' associated with the spots (see text).

Photo 2. Merging spots of sugarcane eyespot, Bipolaris sacchari.

Photo 3. Sugarcane eye spot lesions. Bipolaris sacchari, on sugarcane.

Summary

  • Widespread distribution. On sugarcane, and related grass weeds. A minor fungal disease of commercial sugarcane varieties.
  • Seedling blights, and spots on the leaves (eyespots) parallel to the veins, oval, 12 mm long x 6 mm wide, reddish with pale yelow halo. Reddish-brown to yellow streaks above the eyespots, called 'runners' caused by toxins.
  • Spread is by spores produced in the eyespots blown in wind and rain.  
  • Cultural control: varietal control is the only recommendation.
  • Chemical control: fungicides are not recommended.

Common Name

Sugarcane eye spot

Scientific Name

Bipolaris sacchari. Previous names are Cercospora sacchari, Drechslera sacchari and Helminthosporium sacchari.

AUTHORS Grahame Jackson & Eric McKenzie
Information (and Photo 3) from Philippe Rott, et al. Sugarcane eyespot disease. University of Florida, IFAS Extension (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/sc003). and from Diseases of Australian sugarcane: Field guide. BSES Limited. Australia. (https://sugarresearch.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Diseases-of-Australian-Sugarcane-Field-Guide.pdf). Photo 1 MS Irey Diseases, pests, and nonnutritent disorders of sugarcane. The American Phytopathological Society. Photo 2 (taken by Eric McKenzie), and used in this fact sheet, appeared previously in McKenzie E (2013) Bipolaris sacchari. PaDIL - (http://www.padil.gov.au).

Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project PC/2010/090: Strengthening integrated crop management research in the Pacific Islands in support of sustainable intensification of high-value crop production, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

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