The ratoon stunting (Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli) is one of the most important bacterial disease for the sugarcane. This work is bibliographical review of this pathology with the purpose to update your knowledge for to explain the research results. This disease was observed for the first time in Australia in 1944 and nine years later it was informed in Cuba. The symptoms are not specific, although to producevascular fluid that it originate points and short lines of orange-reddish color in the base of the knots ofshafts takes place, delay of the growth and plants with appearance rickety product to the interference ofthe transport of water and nutrients through of the xilema. The production can be affected to more than 50 % although visible symptoms don’t exist as it is increased the number of crops of the plantations and the susceptibility grade of the varieties. The stress conditions can facilitate the development of the bacteria and progressive reduction of the sugarcane production. In the determination of the incidence and distribution of the illness in the sugarcane plantations the serologic methods are preferred. The main wayfor the dissemination of the bacterium in sugarcane is the material used for the propagation,for which must carry out the hidrotermic treatment to the agamic seed and disinfection of the court instruments used in thesugarcane plantations.