| Abstract | The major diseases of economic importance to sugarcane have been identified and their quarantine risk for Australia has been reviewed. Twelve high to moderate risk quarantinable diseases were identified. Sugarcane smut must be considered the highest risk disease for Australia. It has a history of spread to new countries, is a major disease in all countries where it is present, both tropical and sub-tropical. Smut has recently spread to the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia and Indonesian plans to commence new sugarcane plantations on East Timor and Irian Jaya will increase the risk of smut entering Australia. Other diseases of serious risk are downy mildew, Fiji disease, Ramu stunt, mosaic and leaf scald. The first three are of particular concern because of their presence in Papua New Guinea and because of reported illegal imports of sugarcane cuttings and related species from Papua New Guinea into the Cairns region. Restriction of the movement of these diseases into or within Australia is essential for the continued competitiveness of the Australian sugar industry. All of these diseases should be considered quarantinable for Australia. |
