Ratoon Stunting Disease Of Sugarcane Research Articles

Turning a Blind Eye to Ratoon Stunting Disease of Sugarcane in Australia.

The Australian sugar industry has never pursued genetic resistance to ratoon stunting disease (RSD), despite it being widely considered to be one of the most important diseases of sugarcane (Saccharum interspecific hybrids). This is because of a prevailing view that the disease is economically managed, and that no further action needs to take place. However, there is a range of epidemiological evidence that suggests that RSD is having a more significant impact than what is generally recognized. This review traces the factors that have led to an industry stance that is apparently without any scientific justification, and which has tended to downplay the significance of RSD on Australian sugarcane productivity, and thus has led to significant lost production. The consequences of this position are that RSD may be influencing broad but poorly explained issues such as commercial ratooning performance of existing varieties and the "yield decline" that has been subject to much scrutiny, if not much success in resolving the issue. Based on the available information, this review calls on the Australian sugar industry to prioritize selection for RSD resistance in the plant improvement program.

Draft Genome Sequence of Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli Strain gdw1.

Here, we report the draft genome sequence of Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli strain gdw1, isolated from the stem of Badila sugarcane located at the Guangdong Key Laboratory for Crops Genetic Improvement (Guanzhou, China), that causes ratoon stunting disease of sugarcane. The de novo genome of Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli was assembled with 48 scaffolds and a G+C content of 67.68%, and contained 2.6 Mb bp and 2,838 coding sequences.

Efficient Diagnosis of Ratoon Stunting Disease of Sugarcane by Quantitative PCR on Pooled Leaf Sheath Biopsies.

Ratoon stunting disease (RSD), caused by the bacterium Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli, is arguably one of the most devastating diseases of sugarcane. Four diagnostic techniques were compared for 100 fields of sugarcane (Saccharum interspecific hybrids) of unknown infection status. These were quantitative polymerase chain reaction on pooled leaf sheath biopsies (LSB-qPCR), conventional PCR on the same templates (LSB-PCR), evaporative-binding enzyme immunoassay (EB-EIA) coupled with phase contrast microscopy (PCM) on expressed xylem sap from the same fields, and conventional PCR on the same xylem sap samples. LSB-qPCR and LSB-PCR detected the causal agent in 27 and 18 fields, respectively, whereas, from samples of expressed xylem sap from the same fields, conventional PCR identified 12 infections and EB-EIA/PCM detected L. xyli subsp. xyli in 3 fields. The sensitivities of qPCR and PCR were approximately 103 and 104 CFU ml-1, respectively, determined from plate counts of a dilution series. Tests were conducted on a further 139 LSB samples from across the Australian industry, with qPCR and PCR diagnosing RSD in 31 and 25 fields, respectively. Using qPCR and PCR on LSB samples, RSD was diagnosed in a range of cultivars throughout the year, and qPCR and PCR could detect L. xyli subsp. xyli in sugarcane ranging from 3 months to greater than 1 year old.

Status of ratoon stunting disease of sugarcane (Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli) in Nigeria

Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli (Lxx), the causal agent of ratoon stunting disease of sugarcane (RSD), is a major constraint to sugarcane production worldwide. In Nigeria, the presence of RSD has not been conclusively determined. This study investigated the presence or absence of RSD through surveys in 18 sugarcane growing states in Nigeria. Sugarcane plants or ratoon crops of 7–12 months of age were randomly sampled, and a total of 1190 samples of sugarcane stem cuttings from 76 cultivars were collected. The lowest four internodes were cut longitudinally into nodes, and examined internally for reddish comma-like discoloration. PCR was conducted on DNA extracted from sugarcane sap using Lxx-specific primers. Reddish comma-like internal symptoms of RSD were observed only in samples of cultivar Co510. None of the sugarcane samples, including those from Co510, yielded the 438 bp band expected for PCR detection of Lxx. Immunofluorescence microscopy analyses performed at SASRI, South Africa, using sap from the collected sugarcane samples, also did not detect the bacterium. Thus, the presence of RSD of sugarcane in Nigeria was not confirmed, contrary to its reported presence in 1956. Strict quarantine procedures should be followed to prevent introduction of the pathogen into Nigeria.

Diseases of Important Crops, a Review of the Causal Fastidious Prokaryotes and Their Insect Vectors

Phytopathogenic fastidious prokaryotes are plant pathogens that either resist to grow in any available bacterial culture media or require specific or enriched media to grow. They include Xylella fastidiosa, Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli, L. xyli subsp. cynodontis and Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus and C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis that reside in xylem and spiroplasmas, phytoplasmas and Candidatus Liberibacter spp. that reside in phloem. X fastidiosa is the causal agent of more than 19 diseases; among them Pierce's disease of grape and citrus variegated chlorosis are two major maladies that cause serious economic loss on wine and citrus juice industry. L. xyli subsp. xyli, and L. xyli subsp. cynodontis are associated with ratoon stunting disease of sugarcane and Bermuda grass stunting respectively and C. michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus with bacterial ring rot in potato and C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis with bacterial tomato canker. Spiroplasmas are the causal agents of citrus stubborn, corn stunt and periwinkle diseases. Phytoplasmas are associated with more than 500 diseases worldwide. Ca. Liberibacter spp., are the causal agents of citrus Huanglongbing or citrus greening, zebra chip disease of potato and others. General characteristics of X fastidiosa including (i) its scientific classification, host ranges and diseases incited, and cell shape and size, (ii) specific and enriched media for X fastidiosa, (iii) symptoms induced by X fastidiosa, (iv) geographic distribution of X. fastidiosa, and (v) the insect vectors that transmit the diseases will be discussed. Pierce's disease is the limiting factor for the establishment of wine industry for the entire southeastern United States from Texas to the Carolinas along the gulf coast of Mexico. Recent introduction of the glassy-winged sharpshooter leafhoppers in California has threatened the winery industry of California. The successful isolation of X. fastidiosa from the tissues with citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC) symptoms followed by the identification of the major insect vectors provided crucial information for citrus growers and citrus juice industry to deal with the CVC crisis in Brazil. The biological characteristics of the three phloem-limited prokaryotes, namely spiroplasmas, phytoplasmas and Ca. Liberibacter spp., and the diseases they induce and their vectors will be discussed. Most plant pathogenic prokaryotes do not require an active insect vector to spread them from plants to plants, while X. fastidiosa, Ralstonia syzygii, Ca. Liberibacter spp., phytoplasmas, and spiroplasmas do. To date among all known vectors, the single most successful insects vectoring the diseases belong to the Order of Hemiptera. In the past three decades, researches have emphatically addressed the biology, ecology, vector relationships and epidemiology of crop diseases caused by plant pathogenic prokaryotes which were well documented in numerous review articles. Herein a review of the significance of the insect vectors of fastidious prokaryotes that cause diseases of important crops is to be addressed.

Modifications of sucrose crystallization by xanthans produced byXanthomonas albilineans, a sugarcane pathogen

TheXanthomonas albilineans, casual organism of ratoon stunting disease of sugarcane, produces xanthan, a polysaccharide consisting of a basal tetramer composed by two molecules of glucose, one mannose rest and a final glucuronic acid that is repeated to form the macromolecule. The xanthan occludes both xylem and phloem producing desiccation of leaves. It has been described certain types of polysaccharides, mainly heterofructans produced by the own sugar cane, are able to modify the crystallization sequence of sucrose, product of primary commercial interest of this culture. For that reason, it has been investigated if the xanthan produced by the pathogen and accumulated in conductive elements of stalks and leaves of the host can develop a similar effect.

Development of PCR-based markers for detection of Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli in fibrovascular fluid of infected sugarcane plants

DNA of Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli (Lxx), the causal agent of ratoon stunting disease of sugarcane, was detected in the fibrovascular fluid of sugarcane plants using random amplified polymorphic DNA PCR-based amplification using two 10-mer oligonucleotide primers. The primers OPC-02 and OPC-11 produced Lxx-specific markers of approximately 800 bp and 1000 bp, respectively. A cloned DNA fragment from the 800 bp PCR product (pSKC2-800) hybridised to a single genomic DNA fragment from Lxx when used as a probe in Southern hybridisation. This cloned fragment did not hybridise to L. xyli subsp. cynodontis (Lxc), or L. xyli-like bacteria isolated from grasses in Australia, indicating the usefulness of this DNA fragment as a specific probe for Lxx. A cloned fragment from the 1000 bp PCR product ( pSKC11-1000) hybridised to three genomic fragments in Lxx isolates, one genomic fragment in two of the four isolates of L. xyli-like bacteria, and in two of the four isolates of Lxc isolated from the USA. These results indicate that L. xyli-like bacteria are more likely to be related to Lxc than Lxx. These probes did not hybridise to the DNA from strains of the species of Clavibacter, Rathayibacter, Acidovorax, Ralstonia, Pseudomonas and Xanthomonas tested. Two oligonucleotide primers (21-mer) designed from the pSKC2-800 sequences specifically amplified template DNA from Lxx and detected as few as 5 x 10(4) cells/mL in fibrovascular fluid from sugarcane plants infected with Lxx.

Growing severity of ratoon stunting disease of sugarcane in India

Ratoon stunting disease (RSD) caused byLeifsonia xyli sub sp.xyli has been considered as a minor sugarcane disease in tropical India. However, recently severe incidence of RSD was noticed in varieties such as Co 419, CoVC 89249, CoSi 95071 and CoSi 96071 in Mandya region of Karnataka. In addition to characteristic RSD symptoms viz., dots, commas and streaks at nodal region, pinkish red discolouration of entire nodal tissues was noticed in severely affected canes. Affected canes also showed severe stunting, reduced cane thickness, shrinking of internodes toward acropetal end and external rind discolouration around the nodal region. Indirect ELISA studies revealed that all the cane varieties with the suspected RSD symptoms were positive to the bacterial pathogen. The varieties with severe RSD symptoms recorded ELISA values from 0.904 (KHS 3296) to 1.742 (CoVc 93136) and the varieties with mild symptoms recorded absorbance values from 0.178 (Co 8371) to 0.836 (Co 86032). Observations on the effect of RSD pathogen on bane thickness in sugarcane varieties Co 419, Co 6511, Co 7514, Co 8336, Co 86032, CoA 8201, CoS 687, CoS 770, CoS 767 and CoVc 9319 showed that infection by the bacterium causes significant reduction in cane thickness. The growing severity of RSD warrants careful seed selection and proper monitoring of the disease in the field in addition to the suggested management practices such as steam therapy and meristem culture.

Serological diagnosis of ratoon stunting disease of sugarcane in india

Serological observations of stunted sugarcane plants of predominant varieties in India indicated the occurrence of ratoon stunting disease. The incidence ranged from 3 to 11 per cent on infected clump basis in different varieties. In the serological observations, diffusates from the infected stalks/tissues were used as antigen for identification of bacteriumClavibacter xyli subsp. xyli by DAC — ELISA technique using the C.X. subsp.xyli antiserum. Antigen dilution of 1:250, antiserum dulution of 1:1000 and enzyme conjugate dilution of 1:1000 were found optimum for the detection of bacterium in DAC — ELISA. This technique was found reliable for the detection of RSD in infected sugarcane samples and in symptomless carries.

Spread and Increase of Ratoon Stunting Disease of Sugarcane and Comparison of Disease Detection Methods.

The spread and increase of ratoon stunting disease (RSD) resulting from two mechanical harvests were compared in eight sugarcane cultivars at two locations. RSD spread and increase were detected in the ratoon crops grown after each harvest and varied among cultivars and locations. Disease spread and increase were greater in plants grown from stalks collected at the first harvest than in the first ratoon growth from the harvested field. RSD infection was determined using five disease detection methods: alkaline-induced metaxylem autofluorescence; microscopic examination of xylem sap; and dot blot, evaporative-binding, and tissue blot enzyme immunoassays. The tissue blot enzyme immunoassay was the most accurate RSD detection method. The dot blot and evaporative-binding enzyme immunoassays were the least sensitive for detection of RSD-infected stalks, and alkaline-induced metaxylem autofluorescence was least accurate for correct identification of noninfected stalks. The results indicate that disease spread and increase are variable even among cultivars susceptible to yield loss due to RSD, and the greatest threat of disease spread and increase occurs at planting.

Sensitive and specific detection of Clavibacter xyli subsp. xyli, causal agent of ratoon stunting disease of sugarcane, with a polymerase chain reaction‐based assay

A sensitive, specific polymerase chain reaction‐based assay was developed for the detection of the causal agent of ratoon stunting disease of sugarcane, Clavibacter xyli subsp. xyli. This assay uses oligonucleotide primers derived from the internal transcribed spacer region between the 16S and 23S rRNA genes of the bacterial rRNA operon. The assay is specific for C. xyli subsp. xyli and does not produce an amplification product from the template of the closely related bacterium C. xyli subsp. cynodontis, nor from other bacterial species. The assay was successfully applied to the detection of C. xyli subsp. xyli in fibrovascular fluid extracted from sugarcane and was sensitive to approximately 22 cells per PCR assay. A multiplex PCR test was also developed which identified and differentiated C. xyli subsp. xyli and C. xyli subsp. cynodontis in a single PCR assay.

First Report of Leaf Scald Disease and Ratoon Stunting Disease of Sugarcane in French Guyana.

In December 1995, leaf scald symptoms were observed in sugarcane (Saccharum sp.) cultivar B64277 in French Guyana. Symptomatic plants occurred both in a sugarcane germplasm collection near the road between Sinnamary and Saint-Elie and in a nursery near Sinnamary. Sugarcane imported from Martinique had been used to establish the germplasm collection that in turn had been used to establish the nursery. Ten-month-old mature plants in the germplasm collection had abnormal side shoots on the lower part of the stalks and suckers (nonmillable stalks) with white scalded areas on leaves. Leaves on 1-month-old shoots in the nursery exhibited chlorosis and white, pencil-line streaks. Samples prepared from symptomatic stalks from the two locations were plated on a selective medium (1), and two isolates of Xanthomonas albilineans were recovered. Both of these isolates caused leaf scald symptoms on leaves of sugarcane cultivar B69566 inoculated by a decapitation technique, and belong to serovar 3 previously reported in the Caribbean from Guadeloupe, Martinique, and St. Kitts. The RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) pattern of these two isolates was different from the 54 patterns among 218 other strains collected throughout the world (2), but similar to the pattern of a strain of serovar 3 from Martinique. This indicated that the pathogen might have been introduced with cuttings imported from Martinique. Three stalks of mature cane from varieties B5992, B64277, and R570 from the germplasm collection were tested for the presence of Clavibacter xyli subsp. xyli, causal agent of ratoon stunting disease. Immunofluorescence tests on sap (3) revealed the presence of the pathogen in the three stalks of B64277. All sugarcane plants in the nursery and the germplasm collection were destroyed by the use of glyphosate sprays in January 1996 in an attempt to arrest the spread of the two bacterial pathogens. In order to obtain healthy seed cane for future planting, a new germplasm collection of 0.6 ha and consisting of 11 cultivars was planted in January 1996 with disease-free, tissue-cultured plants provided by the CIRAD sugarcane breeding station in Guadeloupe.

Digital Image Analysis System for Determining Tissue-Blot Immunoassay Results for Ratoon Stunting Disease of Sugarcane

A digital image analysis system (DIAS) was evaluated for enumerating colonized vascular bundles (CVB) from membranes resulting from the tissue-blot immunoassay (TBIA) of surgacane clones being screened for resistance to ratoon stunting disease. Fourteen sugarcane clones were inoculated, transplanted to the field, grown to maturity, and sampled in a prescribed manner for TBIA. Tissue blots were developed, and immunoassayed membranes were counted by both DIAS and the standard visual method (.)

Alkaline-Induced Metaxylem Autofluorescence: A Diagnostic Symptom of Ratoon Stunting Disease of Sugarcane

Alkaline-Induced Metaxylem Autofluorescence: A Diagnostic Symptom of Ratoon Stunting Disease of Sugarcane

Ratoon stunting disease of sugarcane in Sri Lanka

The Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka publishes the results of research in all aspects of Science and Technology. The journal also has a website at http://www.nsf.gov.lk/. 2021 Impact Factor: 0.682The JNSF provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.

Clavibacter: a New Genus Containing Some Phytopathogenic Coryneform Bacteria, Including Clavibacter xyli subsp. xyli sp. nov., subsp. nov. and Clavibacter xyli subsp. cynodontis subsp. nov., Pathogens That Cause Ratoon Stunting Disease of Sugarcane and Bermudagrass Stunting Disease

A total of 23 strains of coryneform bacteria that cause ratoon stunting disease of sugarcane and Bermudagrass stunting disease were examined. These included 17 sugarcane strains from Florida, Louisiana, South Africa, Brazil, and Japan and six Bermudagrass strains from Florida and Taiwan. The sugarcane and Bermudagrass strains contained 2,4-diaminobutyric acid, rhamnose, and fucose in their cell walls, suggesting a relationship to some other phytopathogenic coryneform bacteria and related organisms with similar cell wall compositions. The cellular protein patterns of the sugarcane and Bermudagrass strains after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis resembled the patterns of Corynebacterium michiganense subspecies more than the patterns of some other diaminobutyric acid-containing taxa. The protein patterns of the sugarcane strains were distinct from the patterns of the Bermudagrass strains examined. The guanine-plus-cytosine contents of the deoxyribonucleic acids of two sugarcane strains and one Bermudagrass strain were 66 mol%. The sugarcane and Bermudagrass strains formed a homogeneous group based on morphological characteristics and most biochemical characteristics. All of the sugarcane strains were nonpigmented (white) and grew more slowly in culture than the yellow-pigmented Bermudagrass strains. The Bermudagrass strains, unlike the sugarcane strains, hydrolyzed starch and utilized citrate and malate. Although the phytopathogenic coryneform bacteria with 2,4-diaminobutyric acid in the peptidoglycans of their cell walls are presently classified in the genus Corynebacterium, recent studies have indicated that these phytopathogens should be reclassified. These bacteria form a distinct group with characteristics different from those of all existing genera as presently circumscribed; therefore, we propose that a new genus, Clavibacter, be established for these and similar bacteria. We propose reclassification of Corynebacterium michiganense (including Corynebacterium michiganense subsp. michiganense, Corynebacterium michiganense subsp. insidiosum, Corynebacterium michiganense subsp. sepedonicum, Corynebacterium michiganense subsp. nebraskense, and Corynebacterium michiganense subsp. tessellarius), Corynebacterium iranicum, Corynebacterium tritici, and Corynebacterium rathayi in the new genus Clavibacter. We further propose that Clavibacter xyli be recognized as a new species with the following subspecies: Clavibacter xyli subsp. xyli sp. nov., subsp. nov., the species and subspecies type strain of which is sugarcane strain L1A (= ATCC 33974 = NCPPB 3152 = PDDC 7127), and Clavibacter xyli subsp. cynodontis subsp. nov., the subspecies type strain of which is Bermudagrass strain TB1A (= ATCC 33973).

Comparison of Diagnostic Techniques for Determining Incidence of Ratoon Stunting Disease of Sugarcane in Florida

Comparison of Diagnostic Techniques for Determining Incidence of Ratoon Stunting Disease of Sugarcane in Florida

Comparison of Diagnostic Techniques for Determining Incidence of Ratoon Stunting Disease of Sugarcane in Florida

Comparison of Diagnostic Techniques for Determining Incidence of Ratoon Stunting Disease of Sugarcane in Florida

Single-Stool Plots for Estimating Relative Yield Losses Caused by Ratoon Stunting Disease of Sugarcane

Single-Stool Plots for Estimating Relative Yield Losses Caused by Ratoon Stunting Disease of Sugarcane

Evaluation of Commercial Heat-Treatment Methods for Control of Ratoon Stunting Disease of Sugarcane

Evaluation of Commercial Heat-Treatment Methods for Control of Ratoon Stunting Disease of Sugarcane