About

• Red rot is a serious fungal disease, primarily affecting sugarcane, caused by the fungus Colletotrichum falcatum.
• It is characterized by reddish-brown patches, a sour odor, and significant yield and quality losses.
• Red rot follows a “boom-and bust” cycle, in which the pathogen evolves to overcome a plant’s genetic resistance, leading to severe disease outbreaks in previously resistant crops.

Why in the News?

• The Red rot disease started appearing in major cane cultivating regions of Uttar Pradesh, causing considerable panic among farmers.

About Sugarcane crop

• Geographical conditions

• • • Temperature: Hot and humid climates with temperature ranging between 21 to 27°C.
    • Precipitation: Around 75 to 100 cm annually.
    • Soil: Deep, rich loamy soil with neutral pH (6.5 to 7.5).

• Major sugarcane producing states: Uttar Pradesh > Maharashtra > Karnataka > Bihar > Gujarat.