Ratoon stunting disease （RSD） of sugarcane is caused by a xylem limiting pathogen Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli （Lxx）， the plants infected with RSD are characterized by poor growth， dwarf stalks， lesser tillers. Pinkish to orange red color could be observed in the vascular bundle tissue in lower internodes of the matured sugarcane stalk. The RSD pathogen easily transferred to the healthy cane with infected harvesting tools and makes it spread rapidly. The PCR and enzyme immunoassay methods are most common for the detection of RSD in cane stalk and each of them has advantages and limits. Several culture media have been used for culturing the pathogen， of which the SC medium is the most common. The most effective way to control RSD is the use of resistant varieties combined with the use of pathogen free healthy seedcane. Some progresses have been made to explore RSD pathogen and affected plant to get the information at gene level. Genomics and proteomics approaches have been suggested to explore the plant pathogen relationship in order to control the disease.