Host-Pathogen Interactions in Sugarcane Red Rot Disease
Summary
Sugarcane red rot disease, driven by the fungal pathogen Colletotrichum falcatum, presents a major threat to global cane production through stem discolouration, vascular destruction and yield decline. Infection begins with spore attachment to the rind surface, followed by penetration pegs and the secretion of plant cell wall–degrading enzymes that facilitate hyphal ingress. The pathogen deploys effectors to suppress host defences, while the host responds via pattern recognition receptors that detect conserved fungal signatures and trigger reactive oxygen species bursts, phytoalexin synthesis and cell wall strengthening. Recent advances in transcriptomics and proteomics have elucidated the signalling networks underpinning these interactions, revealing the coordinated action of salicylic acid, jasmonic acid and ethylene pathways. Resistance breeding programmes have capitalised on quantitative trait loci mapping to identify sugarcane varieties with enhanced defence gene expression. Integrative disease management, combining resistant cultivars with targeted fungicide use and cultural practices, offers the best prospect for sustainable control. Ongoing research aims to dissect effector repertoires, host susceptibility loci and the molecular crosstalk that governs infection outcomes, with the ultimate goal of securing sugar yields and supporting livelihoods in tropical and subtropical regions.
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Host-Pathogen Interactions in Sugarcane Red Rot Disease publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in host-pathogen interactions in sugarcane red rot disease across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Colletotrichum falcatum: A fungal phytopathogen causing red rot in sugarcane.
Pattern recognition receptor (PRR): Plant cell‐surface proteins that detect conserved microbial molecules and activate immunity.
Effector: Pathogen‐secreted protein that manipulates host cell processes to facilitate infection.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Chemically reactive molecules produced by the host to restrict pathogen spread.
Phytoalexin: Antimicrobial secondary metabolite synthesised by plants in response to pathogen attack.
Quantitative trait locus (QTL): Genomic region associated with variation in a measurable trait, such as disease resistance.
References
- Molecular Characterization and Pathogenicity of Colletotrichum falcatum Causing Red Rot on Sugarcane in Southern Florida. Journal of Fungi (2024).
- Current and Prospective Strategies on Detecting and Managing Colletotrichumfalcatum Causing Red Rot of Sugarcane. Agronomy (2020).
- Phylogenetic Analysis and Genetic Diversity of Colletotrichum falcatum Isolates Causing Sugarcane Red Rot Disease in Bangladesh. Biology (2021).
- Dry Rot Caused by the Complex Colletotrichum falcatum and Thielaviopsis paradoxa Emerges as a Key Stalk Disorder in Newly Expanded Sugarcane Plantations from Northwestern São Paulo, Brazil. Agronomy (2023).
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