Occurrence of sugarcane yellow leaf virus in southern Punjab

Abstract

Sugarcane Yellow Leaf disease was first recognized as Yellow Leaf Syndrome during the 1980s in Hawaii. Later it was reportedly associated with yield losses of 25% or more in the cultivar SP 71-6163 in Brazil. In Pakistan occurrence of the disease was neglected up to a specific period of time by agricultural extension worker and growers due to low level of losses. Secondly the disease was attributed to nitrogen deficiency factor commonly as indicated by agricultural extension workers. However when disease spread in many parts of the south Punjab beyond the economic threshold level, research workers chalked out a program for the comprehensive survey. The data was recorded on basis of total number of leaf showing symptoms on individual clone as well in the whole field. Visual observation was taken into consideration for the assessment percentage of the disease in the most places, where the disease occurs in patches. The disease has been noted in the central Punjab also. It is concluded that losses due to disease ranged from 10% to 75%