This disease was discovered in North Queensland in the early 1980s and is now found in all sugarcane-growing regions in Australia.
Pachymetra root rot is caused by a fungus-like organism known as an oomycete. The disease reduces yield, causes gappy ratoon crops and can lead to an increase of soil in the cane supplied to the mills.
Pachymetra root rot can be managed by planting resistant varieties. Growers are advised to plant only highly resistant varieties if spore counts exceed 50-100,000 spores/kg of soil. An assessment for the spores of the fungus in the soil is available from SRA.