Dwarf disease of sugar-cane : farm bulletin no. 8

Abstract

Dwarf disease is a new and very destructive disease of sugar-cane which was discovered in the Mackay district in 1930. Fortunately the outbreak was discovered by officers of the Bureau in its very early stages, and by prompt circularisation of symptoms and methods of control the possibility of the outbreak assuming large proportions was prevented. This disease is quite unknown in other parts of the world, and so far has not been reported in any part of Queensland other than a section of the Mackay district. Although the reason for the sudden appearance of the disease in sugar-cane is a mystery, it could be explained on the assumption that it was transmitted to the cane from adjacent weeds or cultivated plants, such as occurs in the case of mosaic disease.