RESISTANCE OF SUGARCANE RELATIVES INJECTED WITH USTILAGO-SCITAMINEA

We evaluated the resistance of 102 clones of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) relatives to Ustilago scitaminea, causal agent of sugarcane smut, in two greenhouse experiments. Relatives included Erianthus spp. section Ripidium, S. barberi/S. sinense, S. officinarum S. robustum, S. spontaneum, and Saccharum interspecific hybrids (cultivars). Clones of Erianthus spp. section Ripidium were the most resistant and clones of S. officinarum and S. robustum were the most susceptible of the six taxonomic groups included in the first experiment. Clones in the second experiment, predominantly S. spontaneum from recent germ plasm collection expeditions, were assigned to one of three groups depending on their geographic origin. Clones from India, Indonesia, and the Philippines had means of 1, 37, and 51% infection, respectively. Exotic, smut-resistant clones will be crossed with elite clones to enhance smut resistance in Louisiana sugarcane germ plasm.