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Survey of sugarcane smut (Sporisorium scitamineum) and association of factors influencing disease epidemics in sugarcane plantations of Ethiopia

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Abstract

Sugarcane is one of the most important sugar crops grown commercially and by small-scale farmers in Ethiopia. However, production of this crop is adversely affected by biotic constraints among which sugarcane smut, caused by Sporisorium scitamineum, is one of the most important diseases. Field surveys were conducted once in eight sugar estates (Arjo, Beles, Fincha, Kesem, Kuraz, Metehara, Tendaho, and Wonji) of Ethiopia from 2017 to 2019 to determine the smut distribution, incidence, severity, and association of biophysical factors with smut incidence and severity. A total of 311 fields were assessed in eight sugar estates. Logistic regression was used to analyze the association of independent factors with smut incidence and severity. The results revealed that sugarcane smut prevailed in 62.7% of the fields. Moreover, mean smut incidence and severity varied significantly among the surveyed fields and sugar estates. High smut incidence (>5%) and severity (>25%) were highly associated with Kesem, Kuraz, Metehara, and Tendaho sugar estates; NCo 334, Natal, Mexican, and Guyana sugarcane varieties; altitude of ≤1000 m above sea level (m.a.s.l.); ratoon crop; heavy and intermediate-textured soils; and tillering growth stage. On the other hand, low smut incidence (≤5%) and severity (≤25%) had high probability of association with Cuba and Barbados sugarcane varieties; furrow irrigation; altitude of 1001–1500 m.a.s.l.; and weed-free and fertilizer applied fields. In conclusion, the presence of high intensity of sugarcane smut in most surveyed areas implies a stringent need for the development of integrated smut management that incorporates resistant varieties, fungicide and biofungicide seedcane treatment at planting, threshold information for ratooning, ecological-based varietal allocation and recommended crop husbandry for effective and efficient management of smut, and sustainable sugarcane production and productivity in the study areas. Therefore, research should give attention to the development of viable and economically feasible integrated smut management programs.

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Data availability

All data generated from the study and reported in the paper are included in the article. Further data sets are available from the corresponding author upon request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge Haramaya University for giving a chance to study PhD on plant pathology as this study was part of the dissertation of the corresponding author. Many thanks are forwarded to all the research staff of the surveyed sugar estates for facilitation and all plantation staffs for willingly providing the required information.

Funding

The study was component of a PhD project and financially supported by the Ethiopian Sugar Corporation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agronomy and Plant Protection, Ethiopian Sugar Corporation, P.O. Box 15, Wonji, Ethiopia

    Samuel Tegene & Esayas Tena

  2. School of Plant Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

    Habtamu Terefe & Mashilla Dejene

  3. Melkasa Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 436, Melkasa, Ethiopia

    Girma Tegegn

  4. Partnership for Aflatoxin Control in Africa, African Union, P.O. Box 3243, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Amare Ayalew

Authors
  1. Samuel Tegene
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  2. Habtamu Terefe
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  3. Mashilla Dejene
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  4. Girma Tegegn
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  5. Esayas Tena
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  6. Amare Ayalew
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Contributions

Samuel Tegene (ST), Habtamu Terefe (HT), Mashilla Dejene (MD), Girma Tegegn (GT), Esayas Tena (ET), and Amare Ayalew (AA). ST = planned and executed survey and assessment, data analysis, write-up; HT = planning, data analysis, write-up; MD = planning, write-up; GT = planning, write-up; ET = planning, write-up; and AA = planning.

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Correspondence to Samuel Tegene.

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Tegene, S., Terefe, H., Dejene, M. et al. Survey of sugarcane smut (Sporisorium scitamineum) and association of factors influencing disease epidemics in sugarcane plantations of Ethiopia. Trop. plant pathol. 46, 393–405 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40858-021-00437-1

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