Ratoon stunting disease (RSD) is one of the largest production constraints in the sugar industry. But Rocky Point growers are working hard to get on top of it in their district. SRA Southern District Manager Lisa Devereaux outlined the steps growers can take to get on top of it.
“SRA research has found the best way to control RSD is to prevent it coming on farm. It is critical to plant with clean seed. The next step is to plant clean seed into fallow. RSD can be transmitted by the remnants of former crops so by planting into fallow you have the best chance of avoiding the infection. And the fields must have been inspected and tested negative to RSD.
“The quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) test offered to the industry by SRA’s IRIS Laboratory services at Acacia Ridge is highly accurate and is the most sensitive test offered. A positive result means a field has RSD. Don’t plant there!”
It’s also important to do a thorough decontamination, where possible, of equipment coming on farm, in particular planters and harvesters.
Sterilisation unit trials
A Harvester Sterilisation unit developed by SRA will be trialled in Rocky Point this year using an RSD testing protocol developed by SRA Lead Pathologist Dr Seona Casonato and Disease Diagnostics Leader Dr Chuong Ngo.
“Using the SRA protocol, we will find out how successful the sterilisation unit treatment is. This work is also being done in other cane growing districts. The goal is to achieve a treatment that is easier to do regularly in between farm visits as well as being effective,” Lisa Devereaux said.
Extension effort
A broader extension effort has been supported by SRA and Rocky Point Canegrowers to inform growers about practical things they can do to prevent the spread of RSD. Associate Professor Anthony Young and a team from The University of Queensland are working one-on-one with Rocky Point growers to assist them to improve RSD control.
Dr Young currently has two UQ students working on RSD: Zoe Cilento is completing her Honours working on interpreting RSD test data, while Alvian Nur Hidayat has commenced his PhD on developing improved integrated management for the disease. Both will work with Rocky Point growers to improve RSD management in the short term. This project is currently being held up by inclement weather.
This project is funded by SRA through a Service Agreement with CANEGROWERS Rocky Point.
NSW Harvest Mate trials
In other news from the Southern district, data is being collected on the operation of Harvest Mate in burnt cane in New South Wales.
“The current version of Harvest Mate is setup for green cane harvest only. The 2025 burnt cane trials and data from previous burnt cane trials conducted between 2018 and 2024, will be statistically analysed and used to build models between harvester operating parameters and harvest performance. The aim is to increase Harvest Mate’s dataset to continue to build confidence in the program,” Lisa Devereaux said.
More information: Harvest Mate Auto
