An abrasive pad rubbing method for inoculating sugarcane with sugarcane mosaic virus

Abstract

An abrasive pad rubbing method was developed for inoculating sugarcane plants with sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV). This method involved moistening an abrasive pad with sap extract containing SCMV and carborundum, folding the pad around the base of the youngest fully expanded leaf, and pulling the pad towards the tip of the leaf. The abrasive pad method was as effective as, and much less laborious than, inoculating the spindle leaf by Sein's pricking method. Differentiation of resistant and susceptible sugarcane varieties was better when plants were inoculated at the advanced tillering stage than at either the 2-3 leaf or the tillering stages. In SCMV resistance trials done over 4 years with a set of eight 'standard' varieties, correlation coefficients of 0.92 to 0.99 were obtained for level of infection and disease ratings, indicating a high level of reliability of the rub inoculation method.