Evaluation of Commercial Heat-Treatment Methods for Control of Ratoon Stunting Disease of Sugarcane. K. E. Damann, Jr., Associate Professor, Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology, Louisiana State University Agricultural Experiment Station, Baton Rouge 70803. G. T. A. Benda, Plant Physiologist, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Houma, LA 70361. Plant Dis. 67:966-967. Accepted for publication 1 March 1983. This article is in the public domain and not copyrightable. It may be freely reprinted with customary crediting of the source. The American Phytopathological Society, 1983. DOI: 10.1094/PD-67-966.

In the greenhouse, seed cane of the sugarcane clone L 62-96 germinated better when commercially heat treated for control of ratoon stunting disease (RSD) than when left untreated. Averages for shoots with RSD symptoms were: untreated 77%, hot-water treated 8%, and aerated-steam treated 5%. Averages for seed cane with one or more shoots per stalk with symptoms were: untreated 98%, hot-water treated 17%, and aerated-steam treated 16%. The commercial heat treatments decreased the incidence of RSD but did not eliminate RSD from L 62-96.