Ratoon stunting disease (RSD) is a major disease limiting sugarcane profitability in Australia, yet the true extent has not been identified or actual monetary losses calculated. This is due to the lack of external symptoms in the field. Detection is typically limited to testing planting material, which requires a lengthy and costly process to identify/confirm RSD presence. In some regions, 30% of crops may be diseased, but little is known about levels in commercial crops. Correct identification of RSD using a method that is timely and cost effective is the solution to detection and thus management.

Application of a molecular RSD assay during milling would immediately provide information on the commercial crop distribution of RSD in the Australian industry. An RSD assay applied to first expressed juice at the mill would enable RSD incidence to be mapped for every mill area for every crop in every year and highlight the factors governing disease incidence. RSD incidence would be pinpointed, allowing focused management to eliminate this yield constraint.