Information Sheet
9.4 Sugarcane rust
Three rust species (types) infect sugarcane: brown rust, orange rust and tawny rust.
Sugarcane is infected by three rust species, brown rust (Puccinia melanocephala), orange rust (Puccinia kuehnii)
and tawny rust (Macruropyxis fulva). Brown rust is widespread, infecting cane throughout Africa, Asia, Australasia,
and North and South America for many years. It was first reported in South Africa in 1941. Orange rust was initially
confined to Asia and Australasia and was classed as a minor disease before an apparent genetic shift in the
pathogen resulted in serious losses in Australia between 1999 and 2001. Since then, the disease has spread through
much of the sugarcane growing world, including Mauritius (2018), Reunion (2019) and Angola (2020). Orange rust
spores were detected on traps at Komati from 2016 and the disease was observed for the first time on sugarcane in
South Africa in February 2022. Tawny rust is a relatively new disease of sugarcane, first observed on N25 in Swaziland
in 2008 before infecting a range of varieties in southern Africa. The grass Miscanthidium capense is thought to
represent the native original host of tawny rust. This rust has yet to be reported in countries outside southern Africa.
Yield effects
Rust reduces photosynthesis and uses up nutrients while invading the plant. The disease damages the epidermis of
the leaf, affecting the ability of the plant to regulate water loss, causing severely infected leaves to die prematurely.
All these factors contribute to yield loss, the extent of which depends on the severity and persistence of the infection.
Yield losses resulting from brown rust infection range from 10 to 40% while losses of 15 to 43% have been demonstrated
for orange rust in other countries. Losses of 10% have been recorded for tawny rust but greater reductions in yield
can be expected when infections are severe.
Severity, persistence and associated yield loss will vary from year to year depending on the climatic conditions
and the varieties being grown.
SERIES
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Diseases Page 1
Spread
Rust produces spores that are microscopic, light and hardy making them well adapted to rapid short and long
distance dispersal by wind and water splash.
Rust is not spread by planting seedcane from an infected field.
Management
Resistant varieties
Varietal resistance is the best and most economical management option. It becomes more challenging, however,
to breed and select for resistance when more than one rust pathogen attacks a crop. Resistance to one rust does
not mean a variety will be resistant to the others e.g. N12 has excellent resistance to brown rust but has some
susceptibility to tawny and orange rust. Mixed rust infections on one variety have been observed.
Genetic changes in rust pathogens can sometimes result in resistant varieties becoming more susceptible. The
breakdown of brown and orange rust resistance has been reported in some countries and has often been associated
with a popular variety occupying more than 50% of the area under cane in a region. Planting no more than 30% of
your farm to one variety can reduce the risk and impact of pests and diseases.
Fungicides
Registered fungicides are available for the management of rust on sugarcane in South Africa (Table 1). Apply
fungicides to actively growing, susceptible varieties before or at the first sign of rust. Absorption will be poor when
plants are stressed or severely infected and the chemicals will not be as effective. Follow instructions on the
product label.
Table 1: Fungicides registered for the management of rust on sugarcane in South Africa
Nutrition
High nutrient levels and nutrient imbalances may result in the crop being more prone to rust infection. Avoid applying
excess fertiliser, particularly following green manure or cover crops. Rust tends to be more severe in cane that is
growing rapidly, is not stressed and has a dense canopy.
Symptoms and factors that can be used to distinguish the different
types of rust
Early symptoms of all three types of rust are similar and include white to yellow flecking that can be seen on both
leaf surfaces. The flecks gradually elongate to form linear lesions that are visible on both leaf surfaces. These develop
parallel to the leaf veins and darken from the centre. Spores erupt from the lesions after 10-14 days, breaking the
leaf epidermis and giving the surface a rough appearance. This is mainly seen on the lower leaf surface. Whole
fields can quickly become infected, changing from green to orange-brown within one to two weeks. As the disease
progresses, each rust type presents its own unique symptoms, making it possible to distinguish them from each
other when infections are fresh (see Page 4).
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Diseases
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Page 2
Brown rust
Brown rust tends to be most severe when conditions are cool and
moist, and relative humidity is high in autumn and spring-early
summer. Brown rust infects young cane (usually 6 months old or
younger) making the effective application of fungicides possible.
Symptoms are most common and severe on N37 and N42. Moderate
to severe infections have at times been observed on N27, as well as
N39, which is particularly prone to infection in the plant crop. The newly
released varieties N59, N69 and N75 have developed moderate to
severe symptoms in some areas. N14 and N25 may become infected
in the irrigated north during autumn and early winter.
Tawny rust
Tawny rust is a relatively new disease of sugarcane. While it is common
in both irrigated and rainfed areas from year to year, it is only observed
periodically in Mpumalanga and seldom in Amatikulu and the coastal
zone of the North Coast. Symptoms are most common and severe
in late autumn and spring. Tawny rust infects cane of any age and
becomes more difficult to manage with fungicides as cane height
increases. The disease infects a number of important varieties with
N57 being the most susceptible variety currently being grown. Other
varieties that are likely to show moderate to severe symptoms when
conditions are favourable include N16, N25, N41, N48, N49, N53, N67
and N71.
Orange rust
Orange rust was identified for the first time in South Africa in February
2022 on newly released N76. The disease has since been observed
in most areas, on a wide range of varieties and at various growth
stages. Orange rust has been observed to infect cane from December
to May in the SA industry. The disease can infect cane of any age
and becomes more difficult to manage with fungicides as the cane
increases in height.
Please see Page 4 for characteristics of the three rust species infecting sugarcane.
SERIES
Diseases
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Page 3
Brown rust (Puccinia Tawny rust Orange rust
melanocephala) (Macruropyxis fulva) (Puccinia kuehnii)
Lesions (pustules)
Colour Dark brown to reddish-brown Dark brown to reddish-brown, Orange to orange-brown to
may be some purpling around reddish-brown
the border
Size Up to 20 mm long and 3 mm Up to 20 mm long and 3 mm Up to 4 mm long and 0.5 mm
wide wide wide
Distribution on leaf More concentrated near the leaf More concentrated near the leaf Often more severe in the
tip tip middle of the leaf, extending to
leaf tip
Note: may be confused with
yellow sugarcane aphid (YSA)
damage
Spores
Colour Cinnamon to brown when fresh Bright orange when fresh Orange to cinnamon-brown
Position on leaf Mainly on lower Most abundant on lower leaf Mainly on lower leaf
leaf surface Very surface but also on upper leaf surface but may be
rarely on upper surface observed on upper
leaf surface when severe
Abundance Usually sparse Abundant, easily transferred to Relatively abundant
(fresh pustules) clothes
and skin
Age of cane Usually 6 months or younger All ages All ages
Favourable Cool (16 to 22ºC), misty or light Cool (15 to 23ºC), misty or light Warm, wet, high humidity
conditions rain, heavy dews, high humidity rain, heavy dews, high humidity
Limited by temperatures Limited by temperatures
Limited by temperatures
exceeding 30ºC exceeding 30ºC
exceeding 30ºC
Season
Most common but April to June, August to April to June, August to October December - May
not limited to: September - October
On young plants, often most
severe on the leaves closest to
Other notes the ground
Becomes more difficult to
distinguish from brown rust as
fresh orange spores disperse
Sharon McFarlane (Senior Pathologist)
August 2022
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