Genealogy of resistant and susceptible sugarcane cultivars to the yellow lea

Abstract

This work was done at the seedbank of Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones de la Caña de Azúcar (INICA). The objective was to diagnose the presence of the Sugarcane yellow leaf virus (SCYLV) by serological method. The pedegree of commercial cultivars and ancestor lines, that are part of the genetic base of the cultivated sugar cane in Cuba, were traced back. In this way, a possible selection for resistance to SCYLV was determined in the breeding program. The presence of this disease symptoms was evaluated in 27 cultivars exploded during 1965 to 2008, and in 37 ancestor lines. In the evaluated collection, 18 ancestors with possible resistance to SCYLV were identified. 45,45% of the commercial cultivars more exploited during 1965 to 1999, and 81,25% from 2000 up to date, were infected by SCYLV. These high ratings may be linked to the fact that breeding programs developed previously in the country, did not include the resistance to this virus. It was observed that the cultivars B77418, B63118, C323-68, C89-176 and My5514 were tested negative not only for the symptoms but also to the presence of SCYLV virus, and they could be candidates for resistant parents to this disease.

Keywords

• sugar cane
• yellow leaf
• resistance