Brainstorming on Status of Red Rot Disease of Sugarcane in India and its Management Organised

Brainstorming on Status of Red Rot Disease of Sugarcane in India and its Management was organized at ICAR-IISR, Lucknow on May 23, 2022. Chairing the Session, Dr. T.R. Sharma, DDG (CS), ICAR highlighted the urgent need of visual and molecular diagnostics of red rot of sugarcane. Dr. Sharma termed resistance breeding, development of artificial intelligence based sensors, prediction model, gene mapping and gene editing as the need of the hour. He further advocated the tissue culture raised healthy planting materials for protection from sett-borne disease. Dr. S.C. Dubey, ADG (Plant Protection and Bio security), ICAR advocated for replacement of most popular variety of sugarcane Co 0238 with Co 98014, Co 0118, Co 15023, CoLk 14201, CoS 13235 etc. In case of non-replacement of the variety in short term, he appealed sugar industry to come forward with necessary provisions for sett treatment with hot water or MHAT and treatment of setts by Thiophenate Methyl @ 0.1% in large scale. Dr. R.K. Singh, ADG (CC), ICAR stressed upon the development of red rot resistant varieties of sugarcane, quality seed production and identification of different races of Colletotricatum falcatum along with basic research on red rot. Dr Singh advised IISR to publish a template on red rot management comprising various management options. At the outset, welcoming the guests and delegates, Dr. A.D. Pathak, Director, IISR briefed on the huge economic losses caused by red rot and contribution of the Institute in managing this disease.

Cautioning about the ill effect of monoculture, Dr. R.B. Daule, Chief Cane Advisor, NFCSF, New Delhi highlighted that no variety should be cultivated in >50% area. He highlighted the need of developing an integrated strategy for management of red rot. During the panel discussion, Dr. N. Vijyan Nair, Ex. Director, ICAR-SBI, Coimbatore; Dr. A. Salem Saumtally, former Director, MSIRI Mauritius; Dr. O.K. Sinha, former PC, ACIRP on Sugarcane, IISR; Dr. Naushad Joomun, MSIRI, Mauritius; officials of the Indian Sugar Mills Association, representatives of Cane and Sugar Commissioners of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab and Haryana deliberated upon the extent of damage caused by red rot disease and its management. Dr. R. Viswanathan, Principal Investigator (Plant Pathology), ICAR-SBI, Coimbatore presented the status paper on red rot management in India.

Dr. T.R. Sharma, DDG (CS) also inaugurated the newly constructed building of Soil Testing Laboratory and released Coffee Table Book i.e. IISR @70: A Memoire. The DDG (CS) also visited the field trials and laboratories of the Institute and appreciated R &D efforts of the Institute.

Dr. S.N. Sushil, Principal Scientist, ICAR-IISR, Lucknow proposed vote of thanks to the Chair and other participants.