DISEASE UPDATE

Jeff Hoy Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology

Orange rust: Is it coming our way??

Orange rust spore shower detected - 2010

Spore trapping conducted during 2010 at Houma, St. Gabriel, and Jeannerette. Orange rust spores detected at multiple locations on more than one date in September and October. Have spore showers occurred in previous seasons? Almost certainly. NO ORANGE RUST HAS BEEN DETECTED IN SUGARCANE IN LOUISIANA. Orange rust may not tolerate cold weather.

What have we learned about brown rust?

Temperature of 26 or below will kill entire plant. Disease requires minimum temperature above 63 F. Leaf wetness period minimum of 7 hr per night. Mean daily ambient temperature above 90 F will curtail epidemic. Limiting temperatures determine start and end of epidemic. Leaf wetness determines severity during epidemic. May be possible to forecast outbreaks time fungicide applications. Rust inhibited by nickel and copper. Inoculation method for seedlings works will apply.

Rust Inoculation System

Brown rust outlook for 2011

~80% of acreage in susceptible varieties 6 of 11 varieties susceptible. We are vulnerable to brown rust. But, freezes already sufficient to limit rust in 2011. Low natural infection prevents ID of susceptible experimental varieties.
2008-2009 winter freezes: 17 days, 63 hours, 27 F low 2009-2010 winter freezes: 27 days, 177 hours, 19 F low 2010-2011 winter freezes: stay tuned

Billet Planting Tolerance Ratings

Variety/ Rating 95-988 P 96-540 I 97-128 P 99-226 P? 99-233 I 00-950 P 01-283 G 01-299 G 03-371 P? NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI Plant cane Plant cane Plant cane Plant cane Plant cane 2005 2006 2007 2008 2010

* * *

* *

* * * * *
NI

* * * * *

NI

NI

What can we do to prepare for billet planting?

Continue screening varieties for tolerance. Not possible to select for tolerance. Basic breeding for red rot resistance is possible. Further evaluate effects of harvester settings on billet quality and performance. Evaluate benefits of seed-treatment chemicals. Look at starter fertilizer again?

Effects of Syngenta Seed Treatment Chemicals on Billet Planting Yield

A B C B

Plant cane 2009

Effects of Syngenta Seed Treatment Chemicals on Billet Planting Yield

* * * *

Plant cane 2010

Primary shoot population in 2011 Syngenta test at St. Gabriel

Treatment Control Insecticide Fungicide All Whole stalk 96-540 11.6 B 12.0 B 14.6 AB 15.6 A 13.3 AB 99-226 17.7 17.1 18.4 20.4 15.7 99-233 14.0 14.5 13.5 14.2 17.3

Harvester application of Syngenta chemicals to 99-226 billets

Fall shoot population in 2011 Syngenta chemical harvester test

Treatment Whole stalk Chemicals No chemicals Population 71.4 C 94.5 A 81.2 B

Smut Update
Still growing varieties with moderate susceptibility: 95-988, 97-128, 99-226, 99-233, 01-299 Biggest problems with 128 988 and 128 going out lots of resistant 540 Possible to buffer seedcane sources of susceptible varieties with 540 (299 most susceptible) Healthy seedcane program helps keep smut at acceptable levels

Healthy Seedcane
Tissue culture based programs have provided control of RSD, smut, leaf scald, yellow leaf, and mosaic Allows variety selection program to avoid applying strict resistance standards (increases odds of coming up with improved agronomic performance) Some interest in heat-treatment What is heat-treatment controlling? Heat treatment was never effective for total industry

RSD testing will be available

Sample oldest stubble fields. Lowest complete internode from 20-30 stalks. Can deliver to WBR Extension office or St. Gabriel. No charge for testing.

Red Stripe Top Rot in 00-950