Queensland turns to smut-resistant sugar

The Queensland region where sugar cane smut was first found has almost made a total switch to resistant varieties.

The fungal disease was found near Childers in 2006 and has since been found right throughout the state.

Mike Cox, from the sugar industry's research arm, BSES, is confident new varieties will perform on par or even better than old varieties.

He says it has been a huge switch.

"In 2006, we had 70 per cent of production in the southern region was from susceptible varieties," he says.

"We've now reduced that to 40 per cent in 2009, and our expectation is that over the next two or three years that will decrease close to zero."

source: abc.net.au