INCIDENCIA DE Elsinoe sacchari Lo EN LA ISLA DE LA JUVENTUD

from the database for the period 1999-2009 of the automated system cuarent of the quarantine station of the isle of youth, the number of sugarcane (saccharum spp.) varieties showing white rash symptoms, caused by the fungus elsinoe sacchari lo., was determined annually. for the period november 2007 to january 2008, the incidence of the disease was evaluated in 38 varieties according to the scale of symptoms proposed by the manual of procedures. by means of non- parametric variance analysis (kruskall-wallis), the average stem height and diameter of those varieties with some symptoms were compared with those with absence of symptoms. from 2004, a significant increment of the number of affected varieties occurred. no symptoms were observed in only 4 of the varieties studied, whereas 47% of the varieties showed intense symptoms. the disease was proven to develop affecting the foliar area with no impact on stem height and diameter.