Sugarcane pathology in India: application of molecular techniques to understand pathogen variability, disease diagnosis and management

Abstract

Since growing resistant varieties remain the mainstay in disease management and there is a need to scientific introduction of varieties in the field. Recently a large number of red rot and smut resistant varieties are identified and they need to be adopted in endemic regions in the country to manage the diseases. Management strategies were already developed to reduce severity of pokkah boeng and rust. Possibility of same fungal pathogen causing pokkah boeng and wilt has emerged in the recent studies conducted at SBI. However, further studies are required through molecular markers to completely characterize the Fusariums associated with stalk and foliage tissue damages in sugarcane and their relation to disease(s) epidemiology. New effective fungicides were identified against red rot. The major concern of poor fungicide uptake inside the setts is addressed by developing mechanized treatment device and it needs to be demonstrated under field conditions. Varietal degeneration in sugarcane affects longevity of proven varieties and to manage this, meristem culture combined with virus diagnosis is established. Multiplication of disease-free seedlings through tissue culture needs new thrust. Hence, industry associations should come forward to create common tissue culture laboratories to produce healthy seedlings. The sugar industry and tissue culture production units may utilize virus-indexing service from SBI to produce disease-free planting materials. Establishing disease-free nursery chains of sugarcane varieties across the country would facilitate healthy sugarcane in the field and varietal vigour will also be maintained in the long run. In the long run this process would ensure development of healthy planting materials supply-chain and sustain sugarcane productivity in the country. Future research should most likely be focused on management of the disease, through identifying disease resistance in germplasm and developing resistant varieties through conventional breeding but also using biotechnological methods. Also more focus to be given on the impact of climate change issues in build-up of disease epidemics and increase in severity of minor diseases in sugarcane.