Pokkah boeng is caused by the Fusarium species complex ( Fusarium sacchari, Fusarium proliferatum, Fusarium verticillioides etc.,).

The disease is caused by Mycoplasma like organisms. Mycoplasma cells are physically small – less than 1 µm – and they are therefore difficult to detect with a conventional microscope.

When diseased setts are planted they may rot before germination, or the shoots may die after reaching a height of about 6-12 inches. As the setts get dried up, the reddish colour becomes black with lots of black coloured fungal spores adhering to it. If infect

The first symptoms of the disease become apparent only when the plant has grown for about 4-5 months. Then gradual yellowing and drying of foliage, shrinkage/withering of canes. If the affected canes are cut and examined, the pith will be Light to dark purplis

The affected plants are stunted, the stunting being most severe in stubble and ratoon crops. In infected stocks, the presence of pin head like orange coloured dots of bacteria on the internal soft tissue in the nodal region The setts taken from diseased plants

The affected canes exhibit leaf colour change, from green to orange and then to yellow in the third or fourth leaf. Then the leaves start drying from bottom to top. If the fungal spores enter the leaf sheath through the leaf midrib, then reddish spots can be s

The earliest symptoms are small, elongated yellowish spots that are visible on both leaf surfaces. The spots increase in length, turn brown to orange-brown or red-brown in color, which coalesced and formed large, irregular necrotic areas, thus it shows rusty a

Production of whip like structure ( 25 – 150 cm) from the growing point of the canes. Whip covered by translucent silvery membrane enclosing mass of black powdery spores. Initial thin canes with elongated internodes later become reduced in length. Profuse spro

This disease affects the 5 to 6 months crop. Yellowing of midrib and adjacent laminar region also yellowing. Subsequent leaf drying along the mid rib in 3 to 5 leaves from top. In some cases reddish discolouration is also seen In severe cases drying of spindle

Symptoms of damage: Nymph and adults suck the sap from leaves Honey dew excrete- development of sooty mould fungus White chalk powder coating on the ground and leaves Identification of the pest: Nymph: Third and fourth instar nymphs covered with white wooly se

Pink mealy bug: Sacchricoccus sacchari Symptoms of damage: Pinkish, oval insects found beneath leaf sheath on the nodes White mealy coating Stunting of main cane and also attack roots Identification of the Pest: Egg: Eggs are retained in the female reproductiv

Scale insect: Melanaspis glomerata Symptoms of damage: Dark encrustations on the internode Identification of the pest: Nymph: Females multiply ovo-viviparously. The nymphs that hatch out from the eggs within the female’s body come out through the genital apert

Cane mealy wing whitefly: Neomaskellia bergii Symptoms of damage: Black, grey or white dot like in appearance Infests under surface of leaves Identification of the pest: Nymph: Brownish oval Adult: Black bands on wings Management: Avoid excessive use of nitrog

Symptoms of damage: Yellowing of leaves turn pinkish latter Gradual drying and presence of sooty mould Identification of the pest : Egg: Egg will be found under the shoot of leaves with yellow in colour, later turns blackish after 2 hours Nymph: Neonate pale y

Symptoms of damage: Leaves become yellow Covered with black sooty mould Top leaves get dried up and lateral buds germinate Identification of the pest: Nymph: Soft, pale brown dorsally and pale orange ventrally with two characteristic anal filaments Adult: Stra

Symptoms of damage: Parallel rows of shot holes in the emerging leaves and Red tunnels in the midribs of leaves Dead heart in grown up canes which cannot be easily pulled Dead heart reddish brown in colour Bunchy top due to growth of side shoots Identification

Symptoms of damage: Internodes constricted and shortened with a number bore holes and frass in the nodal region Affected tissues reddened Dead heart symptoms Malformed and weakened internodes Identification of the pest: Egg: Eggs are flat, lengthy white in col

Root grub: Holotrichia consanguinea: H. serrata, Leucopholis lepidophora

Termite: Odontotermes obesus Symptoms of damage: Poor germination of setts (after planting) Characteristic semi-circular feeding marks on the leaves in the standing crop Entire shoot dries up and can be pulled out easily Setts hollow inside and may be filled w

Aphid: Melanaphis sacchari, M.indosacchari Symptoms of damage: Yellowing of leaves, colonies of aphids in central leaf whorl presence of ants Identification of the pest: Nymph: Yelow in colour Adult: Purple in colour Management: Detrash as per schedule Drain e

Symptoms of damage: Dead heart in 1-3 months old crop, which can be easily pulled out Rotten portion of the straw coloured dead heart emits an offensive odour Bore holes at the base just above the ground level Identification of the pest: Larva: Five dark viole