- Widespread distribution. Asia, Africa, Oceania. On sugarcane, lowland pitpit, and other Saccharum species. Occasionally, an important virus disease.
- Galls occur on the leaves; leaves are stiff, stunted, and flat-topped (as if chewed).
- Spread is by planthoppers, and in planting setts.
- Cultural control: use varieties bred for resistance (Fiji and Australia); do not take planting material from affected plants, even if some stalks in a stool look healthy; carefully remove diseased plants as soon as disease seen without spreading insects; collect and burn trash, after harvest.
- Chemical control: none recommended.
Pacific Pests, Pathogens and Weeds - Online edition
Pacific Pests, Pathogens, Weeds & Pesticides
Sugarcane Fiji disease (077)
Fiji disease of sugarcane; also known as Fiji leaf gall.
Sugarcane Fiji disease fijivirus; the abbreviation is FDV. The particles are 70 um in diameter, and belong to the family Reoviridae.
AUTHORS Helen Tsatsia & Grahame Jackson
Information from SRA (2015) Information sheet ISI5001. Sugarcane Research Australia. (https://sugarresearch.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Fiji-leaf-gall-IS13003-2.pdf); and Fiji leaf gall (2018) SRA Sugarcane Research Australia (https://sugarresearch.com.au/sugar_files/2017/03/Fiji-Gall-Leaf-Info-Sheet_2018-F.pdf); and from CABI (2012) Fiji disease virus (fiji disease of sugar cane). Crop Protection Compendium. (https://www.cabi.org/cpc/datasheet/49800). Photo 1 Bureau of Sugar Experimental Stations, Australia.
Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project PC/2010/090: Strengthening integrated crop management research in the Pacific Islands in support of sustainable intensification of high-value crop production, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.