ADVANCES AND CHALLENGES IN SUGARCANE PATHOLOGY: A REVIEW OF THE 2003 PATHOLOGY WORKSHOP

摘要

THIS paper summarises the activities of the International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists' (ISSCT) Pathology Workshop held 11-16 May 2003, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA. The workshop was attended by 37 delegates from 15 countries, and it began with 2 days of oral and poster presentations on various aspects of sugarcane pathology (detection and diversity of pathogens, host-pathogen interactions, epidemiology, control, new diseases). Contributions were grouped under five session topics: Sugarcaneyellow leaf virus, other viruses, fungal diseases, bacterial diseases and other aspects of sugarcane diseases. Two days were then devoted to field trips and the delegates visited a commercial seedcane production facility and several research farms. The workshop ended with a general discussion session. Various ISSCT business matters were discussed (ISSCT web site, date and location of next pathology workshop). Updates on important disease problems and current research projects were also presented, and new common names suggested for several sugarcane diseases were approved. It was concluded that important and significant advances were made during recent years in sugarcane pathology, especially on yellow leaf caused by the Sugarcane yellow leaf virus. Theworkshop was followed by a post workshop tour in Florida (USA) from 19-20 May 2003. The theme of the post workshop was 'Florida pathology: research programmes and industry's disease concerns'. Ten participants from six countries attended the post workshop tour, which visited the Florida sugarcane industry and sugarcane research facilities.