Friday, October 29, 2004
Microbe disease destroys sugar cane cultivation
By Damitha Hemachandra
White Leaf Disease or Grassy Shoot Disease is destroying the sugar cane harvest in Monaragala, Pelwatte and Sevanagala causing massive losses to growers, Chief Research Officer of the Udawalawa Sugar Cane Research Institute (SCRI) said yesterday.
The disease, which has no chemical control, could be only prevented through heat-treating the seed canes.
"The seed canes should be exposed to 54 Celsius temperature for 50 minutes to eliminate the disease causing micro plasma," Dr. G Chandrasena said.
He said that since the microbe known as Phyto Plasma cannot be destroyed by chemical treatment, the only solution would be to burn the affected plants to prevent the spreading of the disease.
The disease had brought down the yield by 50% and was likely to destroy it fully if not controlled at early stages, Dr. Chandrasena said. SCRI has already launched an awareness programme for farmers and a scheme to provide heat treated seed cane to farmers with the assistance of Sugar Industrialists..
White Leaf Disease or Grassy Shoot Disease is destroying the sugar cane harvest in Monaragala, Pelwatte and Sevanagala causing massive losses to growers, Chief Research Officer of the Udawalawa Sugar Cane Research Institute (SCRI) said yesterday.
The disease, which has no chemical control, could be only prevented through heat-treating the seed canes.
"The seed canes should be exposed to 54 Celsius temperature for 50 minutes to eliminate the disease causing micro plasma," Dr. G Chandrasena said.
He said that since the microbe known as Phyto Plasma cannot be destroyed by chemical treatment, the only solution would be to burn the affected plants to prevent the spreading of the disease.
The disease had brought down the yield by 50% and was likely to destroy it fully if not controlled at early stages, Dr. Chandrasena said. SCRI has already launched an awareness programme for farmers and a scheme to provide heat treated seed cane to farmers with the assistance of Sugar Industrialists..
