Country: Mexico

Title: Detection of orange rust of sugar cane (Puccinia kuenii) in Mexico

Contact:
Dr. Javier Trujillo Arriaga, Plant Health Director, trujillo@senasica.gob.mx

Report: The National Service for Plant Health, Safety and Agri-Food Quality (SENASICA), through the Plant Health General Directorate, has confirmed the presence of orange rust of sugar cane in the Municipalities of Villacomaltitlan, Tuzantan, Huehuetan, Mazatan y Huixtla, State of Chiapas; in Othon P. Blanco, State of Quintana Roo and in Ursulo Galvan, State of Veracruz.

The Plant Health General Directorate has established a working group to review strategies for specific surveys and for the establishment of measures to mitigate risk of spreading orange rust sugar cane.

Orange rust sugar cane has been previously reported in Australia, Asia, Guatemala and the United States. Its symptoms include elongated pustules, that when they grow turns orange to orange-brown colour. Unlike common brown rust, environmental conditions conducive for the development of orange rust include warm and humid months. The pathogen can rapidly spread by wind and large air masses.  

Thanks to reports from other countries where the pest has been previously detected, such as Guatemala and Australia, it is considered that this disease can cause significant economic losses to susceptible varieties in sugar cane producing states in Mexico.

Based on this and according to International Plant Protection Convention standards it is considered that the detection of sugar cane orange rust in Mexico is a pest that is present, only in some areas of the States of Chiapas, Quintana Roo and Veracruz.

Posted Date: April 12, 2010, 9 a.m.