1Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow, India
2Sugarcane Research station, Kunraghat, Gorakhpur, India.
Abstracts of the papers presented at the International Conference of Indian Virological Society on “Emerging and Re-emerging viral Diseases of the Tropics and Subtropics” at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India, December 11–14, 2007.
Out of six viral and yellows diseases of sugarcane, three viz., sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV), sugarcane yellow leaf virus (SCYLV) and sugarcane grassy shoot disease (SCGSD) are economically important. Very often, due to negligence by the farmers the incidence of above diseases goes very high (80–100%). Reduction in yield with SCMV infection alone may be 10–15% in case of plant cane and 16–20% in ratoon. The losses in yield is due to SCGSD may go as high as 50–70%. Combination of mosaic and yellows may cause more damage to the crop. SCYLV is becoming serious recently though it is a late season disease the losses are not so high. The other bacilliform badna virus and red stripe diseases are less important in Indian Subcontinent. Though thermotherapy is helpful for management of yellows diseases (SCGSD, SCYLV) but the common recommendation of moist hot air treatment (MHAT) for 2:30 h at >90% RH did not control SCMV. Meristem tip culture and avoidance of vectors by application of insecticides may be helpful for the control of both mosaic and yellows diseases. Thermotherapy followed by meristem tip culture may be employed to develop disease free breeder seed. Systemic insecticide against the vectors in April – June @ 0.2% solution at 15 days interval may protect secondary infection.
