Screening Australian Sugarcane Clones for Smut ReactionIn Indonesia: Initial Results

摘要

The presence of sugarcane smut in Western Australia poses a potentially serious risk to the eastern Australian sugar industries. An existing agreement with the Indonesian Sugar Research Institute (ISRI) for pre-emptive screening of Australian germplasm was renegotiated after the incursion in WA. Two small-plot, replicated smut resistance trials, containing 296 clones, were planted in Indonesia and were rated monthly in threee trial/crop combinations. Combined analyses of variance of percent smut-infected stools for the monthly inspections revealed highly significant differences among clones and among inspections and highly significant clones X inspections interaction. Genetic coefficients of variation and broad sense heritabilities were high. Significatn gains from selection are achievable. The crops X clones interaction term was not significant in a combined analysis of variance of the final inspections of the plant and ratoon crops of Trial 1. This suggests that trials could be assessed in the ratoon crop only. Assessment on a stool or stalk basis was identical genetically, ut practicality favours stool assessment. A broad range of smut reaction exists in the Queensland cultivars tested. Initial results suggest 70