Effect of sugar-cane smut on yield and yield components of sugar-cane varieties in Tanzania
Keywords:
Sugar-cane, Yield, Ustilago scitamineaAbstract
The effect of sugar-cane smut on yield and yield components of seven sugar-cane varieties NCo 376, NCo 339, NCo 334, 1AC 26/55, D 141/46, CB 3839 and EA 6906, was investigated using a completely randomized block design at Kilombero, Tanzania. Significant reduction was observed in stalk length, stalk diameter, sucrose content and cane yield resulting from smut infecting in all the varieties. In a number of internodes the length, leaf length and width, Brix, pol and purity, the reduction ranged from significant to non-significant in different sugar-cane varieties. The fibre content in different varieties showed no significant change due to this disease. Tiller number was generally higher in healthy plants compared with infected plantsIssue
Section
Research Papers