SUGAR-CANE HARVESTING, ENEMIES 429 



532. The pineapple disease. This disease is caused 

 by a small fungus, Thielaviopsis ethaceticus, which gains 

 entrance to the stalks of cane through wounds in the rind. 

 The fungus spreads rapidly, decomposing the inside tis- 

 sues of the stalks and killing the eyes. While this disease 

 has been observed in this country only in one or two 

 parishes in Louisiana, in tropical countries it is perhaps 

 the most serious of all sugar-cane diseases, and there is a 

 strong likelihood of its developing rapidly in the sugar- 

 belt of Louisiana. 



The fungus causing this disease grows in the soil and 

 for this reason is quite difficult to control. Where the 

 disease is at all prevalent the only remedy is that of treat- 

 ing the seed-cane with a fungicide, as bordeaux mixture, 

 which prevents the entrance of the fungus into the stalks. 

 Planters on whose land this disease has not yet appeared 

 should be on guard against it and take every precaution 

 to prevent its being introduced into their locality. 



533. The root-rot disease. This disease is caused 

 by a mushroom fungus, Marasmius plicalus. The fungus 

 kills the cane roots and often grows in between the lower 

 leaf-sheaths. The disease is easily identified by the white 

 strands of mycelium on or in the stalks. The eyes may be 

 killed before germination or the young plants may be 

 killed after germination. 



Control measures consist of careful cultivation, disinfec- 

 tion of seed-cane with bordeaux mixture, the use of resist- 

 ant varieties, the destruction of infected trash, and resting 

 the land from cane. 



