Detection of Sugarcane yellow leaf virus in quarantine and production of virus-free sugarcane by apical meristem culture

Sugarcane yellow leaf virus (SCYLV) was detected for the first time in 1996 in the Centre de Cooperation Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Developpement (CIRAD) sugarcane quarantine at Montpellier by reverse tra nscription-polymerase chain reaction (AT PCR) in varieties from Brazil, Flo rida, Mauritius, and Reunion. Between 1997 and 2000, the virus was found by RT-PCR and/or tissue-blot immunoassay (TBIA) in additional varieties from Barbados, Cuba, Guadeloupe, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Taiwan, suggesting a worldwide distribution of the pathogen. An excelle nt correlation was observed between results obtained for the two diagnostic techniques. However, even though only a few false negative results were ob tained by either technique, both are now used to detect SCYLV in CIRAD's su garcane quarantine in Montpellier. The pathogen was detected by TBIA or RT PCR in all leaves of sugarcane foliage, but the highest percentage of infec ted vascular bundles was found in the top leaves. The long hot water treatm ent (soaking of cuttings in water at 25 degreesC for 2 days and then at 50 degreesC for 3 h) was ineffective in eliminating SCYLV from infected plants . Sugarcane varieties from various origins were grown in vitro by apical bu d culture and apical meristem culture, and the latter proved to be the most effective method for producing SCYLV-free plants.