Effect of Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli Concentration on Yields of Four Sugarcane Varieties in the Sugarcane Plantations of Ethiopia

Abstract

Sugarcane Ratoon stunting disease is one of the major sugarcane diseases inEthiopia. Nevertheless, yield loss due to the disease in the sugarcane plantationsof Ethiopia is missing and thus this work was conducted to know the preciseestimate of loss due to this bacterial disease. The effect of five bacterialconcentrations of Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli on the cane and sugar yields of foursugarcane varieties was assessed over three cropping cycles at Wonji-Shoa,Metahara and Finchaa sugarcane plantations. The design of the experiment wasRandomized Complete Block Design with factorial arrangement in threereplications. All levels of the bacterial titers caused significant yield losscompared to un-inoculated check. Among the varieties, the highest yield losswas observed on N 14 where losses were 27.76% in cane tonnage and 27.83%sugar. The remaining varieties lost 17 – 18% in cane tonnage and 19 – 20% sugaryield from the three cropping cycles. However, B52298, NCo 334 and NCo 376did not show significant (P < 0.05) difference in cane and sugar yield percentloss across the three cropping cycles. The highest yield loss recorded both incane and sugar yields were from the second ratoon crop of all the four varietiestested, while the least was from plantcane. Similarly, the combined yield data ofthe four varieties over the three crop cycles indicated that losses were 11- 28% incane and 13-29% sugar yield due to ratoon stunting disease. The demonstrationof significant yield loss by RSD should encourage strict follow up of appropriatedisease management practices such as the use of hot water-treated RSD-freeseedcane and frequent disinfection of cane knives during seedcane preparation.