Sustainable Management Approaches of Colletotrichum falcatum in Pakistan

Abstract

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) is a vital member of family Poaceae. It is cultivated worldwide to run the sugar industry and for its nutritional properties. Biotic and abiotic factors have posed obstruction in the sustainable production of sugarcane. Among biotic factors, red rot caused by Colletotrichum falcatum has been proved to be the most ravaging biotic stress of the sugarcane crop. The sugarcane industry currently lacks a sustainable method for controlling red rot expansion in the field, resulting in the abandonment of many sustainable sugarcane varieties. Integrated Disease Management (IDM) is in some way a good technique to prevent red rot in the fields. Combination of different management techniques like use of resistant variety with hot water treatment, use of chemical and biological control and use of nano-pesticides can at some point prove to be a good technique for red rot prevention in the fields. Objective of current research is to highlight early detection of disease in the fields, assess their mode of transmission of C. falcatum in the field and to highlight different management strategies for the prevention of the disease. The implementation of our proposition could have a significant impact on the mitigation of C. falcatum infection in the sugarcane industry, thereby enabling sustainable sugarcane cultivation and guaranteeing the long-term viability of sugarcane industry in tropical and subtropical regions.