• The seed borne diseases viz., red rot, smut, wilt, grassy shoot disease, leaf scald, mosaic and chlorotic streak are to be controlled before planting through sett treatment.
• For which carbendazim, a systemic fungicide is recommended.
• Recommended dose for application is 0.1 per cent solution.
• This could be prepared by dissolving the chemical at the rate of one gram per litre of water.
• Just before planting, the setts should be dipped in the solution for about 10 - 15 minutes.
Seed nursery programme
• The production and availability of good quality healthy seed of newly released varieties are of immense value from the point of sustaining varietal performance and management of diseases and pests.
• Many sugar mills have their own three-tier seed nursery programme.
• Under this programme, heat treated setts are planted for multiplication as primary nursery followed by secondary and commercial seed from which seed material are supplied to farmers for commercial planting.