Saccharum officinarum
sugarcane
24 Related Pests
Peronosclerospora philippinensis
fungus
Sclerospora phillipinensis, Sclerospora maydis
Africa: Mauritius; Asia: Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand.
Not known occur. Reports of pathogen in the US have not been verified (PRSCPH-4)
Mexico
2024-11-18
Downing mildew caused by Peronsclerospora phillippensis is primarily a disease of tropical Asia and Africa. It is one of the most destructive diseases of corn globally. It is commonly dispersed by air currents and rainsplash. It can be spread through corn seeds, especially if not properly dried. This is on the USDA Plant Protection And Quarantine (PPQ)
Select Agents and Toxins list. P. philippinensis closely resembles P. sacchari.
Main: corn; Other: Poaceae family such as oats, sugarcane, and sorghum
No
No references found indicating seed is a pathway.
Dickeya chrysanthemi
bacterium
Dickeya chrysanthemi bv. chrysanthemi
Dickeya chrysanthemi bv. parthenii
Dickeya chrysanthemi pv. chrysanthemi
Dickeya chrysanthemi pv. parthenii
Erwinia carotovora f.sp. parthenii
Erwinia carotovora var. chrysanthemi
Erwinia chrysanthemi
Erwinia chrysanthemi pv. chrysanthemi
Erwinia chrysanthemi pv. parthenii (
Pectobacterium carotovorum f.sp. chrysanthemi
Pectobacterium carotovorum var. chrysanthemi
Pectobacterium chrysanthemi
Pectobacterium chrysanthemi pv. chrysanthemi
Pectobacterium chrysanthemi pv. parthenii
Pectobacterium parthenii
Pectobacterium parthenii var. chrysanthemi
Pectobacterium parthenii-dianthicola
Worldwide
AR, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IL, MA, MN, NE, NY, NC, ND, OH, PA, SD, TX, VA, WI
Mexico, China
2025-09-12
Dickeya chrysanthemi strains have been isolated from a number of different hosts in different countries. The list of all susceptible plants after inoculation by Dickeya chrysanthemi would be far longer than the natural host range, and difficult to establish. There is little if any information on seed as a pathway for this pathogen and therefore should not be regulated.
Eriwina chrysanthemi has been reclassified into Pectobacterium spp. and Dickeya spp.
Primarily ornamentals and flowers. Main: Araceae, Asteraceae familes
No
CABI CPC
No references found indicating that sugarcane seed is a pathway.
CABI CPC
Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. vasculorum
bacterium
Bacillus vasculorum, Bacterium vasculorum, Phytomonas vasculara, Phytomonas vasculorum, Pseudomonas vasculorum, Xanthomonas axonopodis subsp. vasculorum, Xanthomonas campestris pv. vasculorum, Xanthomonas campestris subsp. vasculorum, Xanthomonas vasculorum
Africa: Eswatini, Ghana, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Reunion, South Africa, Zimbabwe; North America: Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, USA; Oceania: Papua New Guinea; South America: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana.
CO, IL, IA, KS, NE
China
2024-12-21
Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. vasculorum is spread through diseased cuttings and is facilitated by wind-driven rain, with warm, humid conditions enabling the pathogen's transmission via wounds on leaves.
Main: sugarcane
No
Spreads via cuttings. No references found indicating true seed is a pathway.
Cephalosporium sacchari
fungus
Cephalosporium sacchari, Fusarium moniliforme var. subglutinans, Fusarium sacchari, Fusarium sacchari var. elongatum, Fusarium sacchari var. subglutinans, Fusarium subglutinans, Gibberella fujikuroi var. subglutinans, Gibberella moniliforme var. subglutinans, Gibberella subglutinans
Africa: Mali, Mauritius, South Africa; Asia: Bangladehs, China, India, Japan, UAE; Europe: Austria, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland; North America: Cuba, Honduras, Mexico, USA; Oceania: Australia, New Zealand; South America: Argentina, Brazil.
AL, CA, FL, HI, MN, NC, SC
China
2024-05-16
Subtropical and tropical regions
sugar cane, corn
No
USDA-FD
No references found indicating that seed is a pathway.
USDA-FD
USDA Fungal Database, https://fungi.ars.usda.gov
Phytophthora erythroseptica var. erythroseptica
fungus
Phytophthora himalayensis, Phytophthora erythroseptica
Worldwide, especially where potatoes are grown
Widespread in potato growing regions
China
2023-08-21
This pathogen has not been repoted in China. True seed is not known to be a pathway.
This is an important pathogen of potato. Affects a few other important crops, but not known to be a serious pathogen of other crops. Most crops not known to be a host in nature.
No
PHYTER-2, CABICPC
Not a host. Sugarcane, as a host has only been established under artificial inoculation, infection in nature not reported. True seed is not known to be a pathway.
PHYTER-2, CABICPC
Peronosclerospora sacchari
fungus
Sclerospora sacchari
Africa: Nigeria; Asia: China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam; North Oceania: Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste.
Not known to occur.
Mexico, Korea
2023-08-21
Peronosclerospora saccharine is spread through seeds with high moisture content. Once the moisture drops below 20% the mycelium loses its viabilitiy.
Main: sugarcane, corn
No
PRSCSA-4
There is no evidence that true seed is a pathway for this pathogen. Transmission more common with propagative "seed sets" or other propagative material.
PRSCSA-4
Bonde, MR. 1982. Epidemiology of Downy Mildews of Maize, Sorghum and Pearl Millet. Tropical Pest Management 28:49-60
Maize streak virus
virus
Sugarcane streak virus, Cereal African streak virus, Maize mottle virus,
Maize streak monogeminivirus
India, Indonesia, Yemen, widespread in Africa
Not known to occur.
Korea
2023-08-21
No evidence that seed is a pathway for this virus. Transmitted by leafhoppers only. Maize streak virus is a quaratine pest in the USA
corn, sugarcane, oat, barley, rye, sorghum, wheat, grasses (Poaceae family)
No
MSV000-1, MSV000-2, MSV000-3
No evidence that seed is a pathway. Transmission by leafhoppers only.
MSV000-1, MSV000-2, MSV000-3
Maize Streak Virus. In: Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Richardson, MJ. 1990. An Anotated List of Seed-Borne Disease. International Seed Testing Association. Zurich, Switzerland
Brunt, AA, Crabtree, K., Dallwitz, MJ, Gibbs, AJ, Watson, L. and Zurcher, EJ. (eds.). Plant Viruses Online: Descriptions and Lists from the VIDE Database, Version: 16th 1997. http://bio-mirror.im.ac.cn/mirrors/pvo/vide/refs.htm
Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. nebraskensis
bacterium
Corynebacterium michiganense pv. nebraskense, Corynebacterium michiganense subsp. nebraskense, Corynebacterium nebraskense
Canada
Midwest states
China, Korea, Sudan
2023-08-03
Found in US Midwest where field corn is grown.
corn, sugarcane, sorghum, sudan grass.
No
No references found indicating sorghum seed is a pathway. Seed pathway may be inferred because seed pathway for corn is known.
Maize dwarf mosaic virus
virus
Maize mosaic virus, European mosaic virus, Indian mosaic virus, Maize stripe mosaic virus, sorghum red stripe virus, maize dwarf mosaic potyvirus
Worldwide
Widespread
2025-08-04
Maize dwarf mosaic virus is transmitted by aphids in a nonpersistent manner and can also be spread through seed at low rates.
Main: sorghum, corn; Other: oats, millet, sugarcane.
No
MDMV00-1
No references found indicating that sugarcane seed is a pathway.
MDMV00-1
Maize Dwarf Mosaic Virus. In: Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Sugarcane mosaic virus
virus
abaca mosaic potyvirus
abaca mosaic virus
European mosaic virus
Grass mosaic virus
maize dwarf mosaic potyvirus strain B
maize dwarf mosaic virus strain B
Sorghum red stripe virus
Sorghum concentric ring virus
sugarcane mosaic potyvirus
Worldwide in sugarcane growing regions
Fl, HA
-
2025-08-15
This virus is often mistaken for Sorghum mosaic virus, as both viruses produce similar symptoms in sugarcane. Its strains are generally host-specific. The virus is transmitted by aphids and is a component of the corn lethal necrosis complex, but it is not known to be seed-transmitted.
Main: sugarcane, corn; Other: soghum
No
CABI CPC, DPV WEB
Seed is not known to be a pathway
CABI CPC, DPV WEB
Bipolaris sacchari
fungus
Drechslera sacchari, Helminthosporium sacchari,Helminthosporium ocellum, Cercospora sacchari,Bipolaris stenospila, Helminthosporium stenospilum,Drechslera stenospila, Bipolaris ocella, Helminthosporium ocellum, Drechslera ocella
Worldwide, especially in tropic and subtropic regions
AL, FL, GA, HI, LA, MD
Korea
2022-10-09
sugarcane, millet
Yes
DRECSA-5, DRECSA-7
Although both references and CABI, 2018 indicate that this fungus can be found on seed, it is unclear as to importance of seed infection to disease development.
DRECSA-5, DRECSA-7
Blotter incubation
DRECSA-7
This method was used for research purposes and has not been validated or standardized.
Yes, Thiophanate-methyl (Topspin) gave 100% control in laboratory experiments. Captan ~90% control
DRECSA-7, DRECSA-6
Good cultural practices and sanitation have been shown to reduced disease incident. Resistant varieties are available.
Loveless and Smith, 1956. Seedling Blight of Sugarcane‐A New Disease Caused by Helminthosporium sacchari, Butler. Annals of Applied Biology 44:419-424
Sinha OK; Kishan Singh, 1983. Sugarcane seed decay: prevalence of fungi and collar rot of seedlings caused by Curvularia spp. and Drechslera spp. Seed Research 10:114-11
Wahid A; Saleem A; Ali S; Masoud T, 1990. Fungicidal control of seedling blight of sugarcane caused by Drechslera sacchari. Pakistan Journal of Phytopathology, 2:14-21
Pseudomonas syringae pv. lapsa
bacterium
Chlorobacter lapsus, Phytomonas lapsa, Pseudomonas lapsa
Egypt, Nigeria, China, India, Pakistan, Germany
CA
Thailand
2022-12-01
sugarcane, sorghum, corn, wheat
No
No references found indicating seed is a pathway.
Herbaspirillum rubrisubalbicans
bacterium
Pseudomonas rubrisubalbicans, Bacterium rubrisubalbicans, Phytomonas rubrisubalbicans, Xanthomonas rubrisubalbicans
Africa: Angonal, Benin, Burundi, Central African Republic, Cote d'Ivorie, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Niger, Reunion, Tanzania, Togo; Asia: China, Japan, Sri Lanka, Thailand; North America: Barbados, Cuba, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Martinique, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, USA; Oceania: Australia, Fiji, New Zealand; South America: Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela.
FL, LA, TX
Thailand
2024-09-14
No evidence that seed is a pathway. Thailand regulated pest list uses P. rubrisbalbicans.
sugarcane, sorghum, corn
No
CABICPC
Seed is not known to be a pathway
CABICPC
Sclerospora graminicola
fungus
Peronospora graminicola, Peronospora setariae, Protomyces graminicola,Sclerospora graminicola var. setariae--italicae, Ustilago urbani
Africa, Asia, Europe, Canada, Mexico, Fiji, Argentina
Widespread in Southeastern US, not reported in Western US
Thailand
2023-08-21
This is an important disease of pearl millet, especially in the tropic climates. Other hosts seem to be unimportant or incidental.
pearl millet, millet. sugarcane, corn, foxtail millet, duram wheat, sorghum, several wild grasses
No
No references found indicating sugarcane seed is a pathway. Sugarcane is not an important host for this pathogen.
Sclerophthora macrospora
fungus
Phytophthora macrospora, Phytophthora oryzae, Sclerospora macrospora, Sclerospora oryzae, Nozemia macrospora, Sclerospora kriegeriana
Worldwide
AZ, AR, FL, IL, LA, MS, ND, RI, TN, TX
Thailand
2023-08-21
corn, rice, oat, barley, rye, sorghum, sugarcane
No
SCPHMA-4
No references found indicating that seed is a pathway.
SCPHMA-4
Richardson MJ, 1990. An Annotated List of Seed-borne Disease. International Seed Testing Association, Zurich, Switzerland
Pseudocochliobolus pallescens
fungus
Cochliobolus pallescens, Curvularia leonensis, Curvularia pallescens
Africa, Southeast Asia, Caribbean, South America, Pakistan, Australia, Denmark, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Togo, Canada, Mexico
DC, IA
Korea
2023-08-21
pepper, corn, bean, fava bean, wheat , rice, sorghum, sugarcane, soybean, potato, buckwheat,
No
No references found indicating seed is a pathway
Phyllachora sacchari
fungus
Phyllachora sacchari-aegyptiaci
Asia: Brunei, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines; Oceania: Papua New Guinea.
Not known to occur
Korea
2024-12-16
Distribution information from ARS GRIN.
sugarcane, sorghum, millet
No
PHYRSA-2
No references found indicating seed is a pathway. Ascospores in plant debris is the primary inoculum and this is a minor disease of sugarcane.
PHYRSA-2
Ricaud, C. 2000. Black Tar Spot. In A Guide to Sugarcane Diseases, Eds. Rott, P., Bailey, RA, Comstock, JC, Croft, BJ, Saumtally, AS., CIRAD and ISSCT, France.
Setosphaeria rostrata
fungus
Exserohilum rostratum, Helminthosporium rostratum, Bipolaris rostrata, Drechslera rostrata, Exserohilum antillanum, Exserohilum gedarefense, Variant spelling Exserohilum gedarefensis, Helminthosporium halodes, Bipolaris halodes, Exserohilum halodes, Drechslera halodes, Helminthosporium halodes var. elaeicola, Helminthosporium halodes var. tritici, Helminthosporium leptochloae, Helminthosporium longirostratum, Exserohilum longirostratum, Exserohilum macginnisii, Setosphaeria prolata, Exserohilum prolatum, Drechslera prolata
Worldwide
Widespread, especially east of the Continental Divide
Korea
2023-08-21
Primarily grasses and grains, reported on other over 200 plant species, including several vegetable crops, but these seem to be experimental curiosity or occasional findings that are not confirmed. Only important grains listed below
No
DRECRO-6
Pathway not proven. Reference suggested seed or dried fruit tissues associated with seed (seed fuzz) carried this pathogen into seedling flats, but the cause of seedling blights in their research could have been from four different pathogens found contaminating "seed". Sugar cane is often planted from propagative material.
DRECRO-6
Agar plating
DRECRO-6
This pathogen was one of four pathogens recovered from "seed fuzz" with this method. This method has not been validated or standardized.
Benomyl
DRECRO-6
See comment under test comment.
Byther, R.S., and Steiner, G.W. 1972. Four sugarcane seedling diseases in Hawaii: causal agents, control, and a selective medium for isolation. Phytopathology 62: 120-124.
Ceratocystis paradoxa
fungus
Ceratostomella paradoxa, Chalara paradoxa, Chalara thielavioides, Chalaropsis thielavioides, Endoconidium fragrans, Hughesiella euricoi, Ophiostoma paradoxa, Ophiostoma paradoxum, Sporoschisma paradoxum, Stilbochalara dimorpha, Thielaviopsis ethacetica, Thielaviopsis paradoxa, Thielaviopsis thielavioides
Worldwide, primarily in tropical areas.
CA, FL, HI
Korea
2024-11-10
Ceratocystis paradoxa affects sugarcane vegetative planting but does not occur on true seed.
Main: sugarcane, corn, tropical fruits and trees.
No
CERAPA-1
Ceratocystis paradoxa effects sugarcane vegetative planting material but does not occur on true seed.
CERAPA-1
Ceratocystis paradoxa. In: Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Peanut clump virus
virus
Peanut clump furovirus, PCV, Peanut clump pecluvirus
Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Gabon, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Sudan; Asia: India, Pakistan.
Not known to occur
Korea
2025-09-05
Peanut Clump Virus is primarily transmitted through the soil-borne fungus Polymyxa graminis, which infects plant roots. It can also be mechanically transmitted and is only known to be seed transmitted in Arachis hypogaea (groundnut).
Main: groundnut, foxtail millet, Other: Wheat, sugarcane,
No
No references found indicating seed is a pathway. Sugarcane can be a host and can be infected by the Polymyxa graminis vector.
Pratylenchus zeae
nematode
Pratylenchus indicus
Worldwide
AR, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, NC, TX
Korea
2024-09-12
Seed is not known to carry the pest in trade/transport. Lesion nematodes are spread through the movement of contaminated soil and infected plant debris.
P. zeae is a pest of rice and other graminaceous crops: principally, maize, sorghum and sugarcane. It has a wide host range.
No
CABICPC, PRATZE-2
Seed is not known to be a pathway.
CABICPC, PRATZE-2
Pratylenchus brachyurus
nematode
Anguillulina brachyura, Pratylenchus leiocephalus, Pratylenchus pratensis, Pratylenchus steineri, Tylenchus brachyurus
Worldwide, primarily in tropical and subtropical regions.
AL, AR, CA, FL, GA, HI, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA
Korea
2025-08-13
Pratylenchus brachyurus is a root-lesion nematode that reproduces mainly by mitotic parthenogenesis. It spends its entire life cycle inside plant roots or in surrounding soil, feeding and moving within root tissues. Eggs overwinter in roots or soil, hatching in spring to resume infection. Seed is not known to be a pathway.
Wide host range. Main hosts of economic importance: pineapple, potatoes, peanuts, cotton, tobacco, peaches, cereals, coffee, soybean.
No
CABI CPC, PRATBR-4, PRATBR-5, PRATBR-6, PRATBR-7, PRATBR-8
Seed is not known to be a pathway for this nematode in any host.
CABI CPC, PRATBR-4, PRATBR-5, PRATBR-6, PRATBR-7, PRATBR-8
Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Nemaplex.UCDavis.edu; Revision Date: 16-December-2024; Accessed 13-August-2025
Nomura, R. B. G., Lopes-Caitar, V. S., Hishinuma-Silva, S. M., Machado, A. C. Z., Meyer, M. C., & Marcelino-Guimarães, F. C. (2024). Pratylenchus brachyurus: status and perspectives in Brazilian agriculture. Tropical Plant Pathology, 49(5), 573-589.
Agrios, G. N. 2005. Plant Pathology, 5th Edition. Elsevier Academic Press. 922 pp
Chitambar, J. J., Westerdahl, B. B., and Subbotin, S. A. 2018. Plant Parasitic Nematodes in California Agriculture. In Subbotin, S., Chitambar J., (eds) Plant Parasitic Nematodes in Sustainable Agriculture of North America. Sustainability in Plant and Crop Protection. Springer, Cham.
Scheck, H.J. 2023. California Pest Rating Proposal for Pratylenchus brachyurus (Godfrey, 1929) Filipjev & Schuurmans-Stekhoven, 1941 smooth-headed lesion nematode. California Department of Food and Agriculture, Sacramento, California, USA,
Puccinia kuehnii
fungus
Uromyces kuehnii
Widespread in tropical climates of Asia, Africa, South America, Central America, Mexico and Oceania
FL, LA
Korea
2023-08-21
sugarcane
No
CABICPC
Seed is not known to be a pathway
CABICPC
Xanthomonas albilineans
bacterium
Agrobacterium albilineans
Bacterium albilineans
Phytomonas albilineans
Pseudomonas albilineans
Xanthomonas albilineans var. paspali
Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Cote d'Ivorie, Eswatini, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Mzambique, Nigeria, Reunion, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe; Asia Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam; North America: Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, USA; Oceania: Australia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Papua New Guinea; South America: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela
HI, LA, TX
China
2025-09-15
Xanthomonas albilineans is primarily transmitted through infected planting material and contaminated cutting tools. It is not known to be seed-transmitted.
Main: sugarcane, Johnson grass; Other: corn
No
XANTAB-2, XANTAB-3, CABI CPC
Seed is not known to be a pathway for this pathogen.
XANTAB-2, XANTAB-3, CABI CPC
Richardson, MJ. 1990. An Annotated List of Seed Borne Diseases. International Seed Testing Association, Zurich, Switzerland
Persley GJ, 1973. Epiphytology of leaf scald in the central district of Queensland. Ibid.: Proceedings of the Queensland Society of Sugarcane Technologists, 40th Conference, Innisfail, Queensland, 2-8 May, 1973. Brisbane, Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations. Australia, 39-52
Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
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