Striate Mosaic: a New Disease of Sugar Cane

Abstract

THE term ‘striate mosaic’ is proposed for a new disease of sugar cane found in the varieties Pindar and Q.57 in the Lower Burdekin district in north Queensland. The most obvious features are the short, fine striations which can just be separated by the naked eye. They are a lighter colour than the normal leaf blade and show first on the youngest exposed leaf and reach their best development as the leaf expands, but are difficult or impossible to find on mature and older leaves. They occur less in the region of the large vascular bundles than in the tissue between and so in the aggregate often give a marked striping effect on the younger leaves, or even a yellowing to the entire top. Severe stunting is usually associated with the striations but striations without obvious stunting have been found in Pindar.