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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Houma, Louisiana » Sugarcane Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #303818
Title: Determining seed transmission of sugarcane mosaic virus and sugarcane yellow leaf virus in sugarcane

Author
item Keizerweerd, Amber
item Maroon Lango, Clarissa
item Grisham, Michael

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/14/2014
Publication Date: 11/1/2014
Citation: Keizerweerd, A.T., Maroon Lango, C.J., Grisham, M.P. 2014. Determining seed transmission of sugarcane mosaic virus and sugarcane yellow leaf virus in sugarcane. Phytopathology. 104(Suppl. 3):S3.128.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The importation of sugarcane germplasm is essential to diversify sugarcane germplasm used in United States breeding programs. Foreign germplasm is received primarily as vegetative cuttings. Current permit requirements for importing sugarcane seed into the United States are impractical and limit the acquisition of germplasm from some geographic sources. The objective of this study was to investigate potential seed transmissibility of Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) and Sugarcane yellow leaf virus (SCYLV) in an effort to determine the risk of exotic pathogen introduction. Seeds were collected from four crosses involving a Sugarcane mosaic virus-infected female parent. The seeds were surface disinfested with commercial bleach, sown and germinated, and the seedlings grown in a quarantine facility for 3 mo prior to RNA extraction. The resulting 389 seedlings were screened for SCMV and SCYLV via RT-PCR. Three unique primer sets were used for each virus, with at least one being family or group-specific for a wider target range. After repeated testing, all seedlings were shown to be negative for both viruses. These results support earlier findings, which revealed no transmission of viral sugarcane pathogens through seed. Our ultimate goal is to provide research information in support of modifying permit conditions that currently prevent importation of foreign seed.