First ratoon from cuttings or vitroplants free of Xanthomonas albilineans can be used as seed in sugarcane production

Abstract

One of the factors that limits the production of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is the use of poor quality seed. The objective of the work was to demonstrate the feasibility of using the first ratoon from in vitro propagated plants or cuttings as seed with phytosanitary quality with respect to the presence of Xanthomonas albilineans, the causal agent of foliar scald. Two cultivars (C1051-73 and C90-469) and three types of planting plant material were used (one-bud cuttings, three-bud cuttings and vitroplants). The evaluations were carried out at 10 months of culture in the cane plant strain and first ratoon. The variables analyzed were serological diagnosis by UMELISA and staining of the xylem vessels for the presence of X. albilineans, agricultural yield and its components. In addition, the results of both strains were compared in the variables t cane ha-1, diagnosis by UMELISA and by staining of the xylem vessels. The results reflected that the cultivars and treatments did not show significant differences regarding the diagnostic methods used in the strains evaluated. The agricultural yield (t cane ha-1) was superior for the treatment with cuttings of three buds in cane plant and in ratoon it was for plants reproduced in vitro. The number of stems in the two strains increased in the propagation with vitroplants. In the comparison between the cane plant and first ratoon, there were only significant differences in agricultural yield and the percentage of functional vessels of the xylem, which were in favor of the ratoon. It was demonstrated the feasibility of using the first ratoon from vitroplants and cuttings, as seed with phytosanitary quality with respect to the presence of X. albilineans.

Keywords

• diagnostic
• hydrothermic treatment
• saccharum
• xylem vessels staining