Sugarcane Germplasm Conservation and Exchange Report of an international workshop held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 28-30 June 1995 Editors B.J. Croft, C.M. Piggin, E.S. Wallis and D.M. Hogarth The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) was established in June 1982 by an Act of the Australian Parliament. [ts mandate is to help identify agricultural problems in developing countries and to commission collaborative research between Australian and developing country resean;hers in field, where Australia has special research competence. Where trade names are used thi, does not constitute endorsement of nor discrimination against any product by the Centre. This series of publications includes the full proceedings of research workshops or symposia or supported by ACIAR. Numbers in this ,,,ries are distributed internationally to individuals and scientific institutions. © Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research GPO Box 1571. Canberra, ACT 260 J Australia Croft, B.1., Piggin, CM., Wallis E.S. and Hogarth, D.M. 1996. Sugarcane germplasm conservation and exchange. ACIAR Proceedings No. 67, 134p. ISBN 1 86320 177 7 Editorial management: P.W. Lynch Typesetting and page layout: Judy Fenelon, Bawley Point. New Soulh Wales Printed by: Paragon Printers. Fyshwick, ACT Foreword ANALYSIS by the Technical Advisory Committee of the Consultative Group of Internation­ al Agricultural Research Centres (estimated that in 1987-88 sugar was the fourteenth most important crop in developing countries, with a gross value of production of over US$7.3 billion. In Australia it is the third most important crop, with a value in 1994-95 of around A$1.7 billion. The importance of sugar in developing countries and Australia makes it an appropriate focus for collaborative research and development with support from the Aus­ tralian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). The importance of international collaboration for Australia is further emphasised by the fact that the Australian industry is based on imported gerrnplasm; there are no native Saccharum species. The Australian sugar industry has been cautious about supporting international scientif­ ic collaboration. Since 1982, ACIAR has funded only one collaborative project on sugar evaluating policy options for sugar production and marketing in the Philippines. In recent times, however, industry keenness has grown and opportunities to promote such collaboration were discussed between ACIAR, the Sugar Research and Development Cor­ poration and the Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations in a series of meetings during 1994. It was resolved that, because of the importance of gerrnplasm exchange in the develop­ ment of sugarcane industries worldwide and the recent findings of new virus diseases in germplasm centres and exchanged germplasm, a workshop should be held on safe man­ agement and international exchange of sugarcane gerrnplasm. This workshop, which is reported in these proceedings, was held near Brisbane in Queensland, Australia, on 28-30 June 1995. A committee consisting of Barry Croft, Mac Hogarth, Peter Whittle, Bob Dodman, Eoin Wallis and Colin Piggin organised the work­ shop. Ted Henzell also helped greatly with its organisation and running. People from Australia (21) and overseas (14) attended, presenting papers and partici­ pating in discussions on a range of issues related to the collection, characterisation, con­ servation, cleanup and exchange of sugarcane germplasm. Consideration of such issues concerning vegetatively propagated species was enhanced through several case studies of successful operations internationally with banana at the International Network for Improvement of Banana and Plantain, in Australia with potato at the Institute for Horti­ cultural Development Knoxfield, and in the United States with fruit trees at Beltsville, Maryland. The excellent organisation, the spectacular and beautiful location of Clearview Mountain, and the enthusiasm and expertise of participants, all conspired to foster a very positive spirit at the workshop. It proved possible within the three days to review current knowledge and experiences with the exchange and quarantine of sugarcane and to develop action plans to address the major constraints. Outputs included recommen­ dations for germplasm conservation, exchange, quarantine and conservation based on current knowledge, and the identification of priorities for future research and develop­ ment, including opportunities for international collaboration. Presented papers and a summary of outcomes from the workshop are presented in these proceedings. It is expected that these will provide background information to develop and seek support for a range of collaborative research, development and training projects on issues concerned with the conservation, exchange and use of sugar germplasm. Colin Piggin Crop Program Coordinator ACIAR 6 September 1995 iii Contents Objectives of the Workshop CC Ryan Importance of International Germplasm Exchange to the Australian Sugar Industry 2 D.M. Hogarth and N. Be/'ding Review of Restriction to Free Access to Germplasm Exchange Facing Australian and Other International Sugar Industries 6 B.J. Croft International Sugarcane Germplasm Collections Role of ISSCT in Promoting Sugarcane GermpJasm Collections and Their Maintenance 12 B.T. Egan The Role Of IPGRI in Germplasm Conservation 14 F. Engelmann and J. Engels Current Status of the World Sugarcane Germplasm Collection in Florida 17 J. C Comstock, R.i. Schnell and i.D. Miller Conservation of Sugarcane Germplasm In India Given the Occurrence of New Viral Diseases 19 K. C A lexander and R. Viswanathan Major Diseases Affecting Sugarcane Production and Recent Experiences with Sugarcane Diseases in Quarantine Major Diseases Affecting Sugarcane Production in the United States 24 J. C Comstock Acquisition and Quarantine of Saccharum spp. Germplasm and Related Genera in the United States 27 SS Hurtt Major Diseases Affecting Sugarcane Production on the Ramu Sugar Estate, Papua New Guinea 30 S. Suma and E. Pais The Sugarcane Disease and Quarantine Situation in Southern Africa 34 RA Bailey Problems of Pests and Diseases for Sugarcane and the Resistance Breeding Program in Indonesia 36 P.D.N. Mirzawan, lrawan, and S. Lamadji Disease Constraints Associated with the Movement of Sugarcane Germplasm to and from Mauritius 42 S. Saumtally, S. Dhayan, S. Ganoo and S. Sullivan Major Diseases Affecting Sugareane Production in India and Recent Experiences in Quarantine 46 K.C Alexander and R. Viswanathan Major Diseases Affecting Sugarcane Production in Guadeloupe and Reunion Island, and Recent Experiences with Sugarcane Diseases in Quarantine at CIRAD-CA in Monrpellier 49 P. Roft, JB. Daugrois and J.C Girard Major Sugarcane Diseases in Fiji 51 R. Tamanikaiyaroi and S. Johnson Major Diseases Affecting Sugarcane Production in Australia and Recent Experiences with Sugarcane Diseases in Quarantine 55 B.J. Croft and G.R. Smith Sugarcane Diseases in Southern Brazil: A Brief Report 59 w.L. Burnquist and J. Vega v Excluding Diseases in Exchange of Vegetatively Propagated Crops Optimising Disease in Quarantine 64 R.L Dodman Role of In-Vitro Maintenance of Sugarcane for Germplasm Conservation and Exchange 67 l. C. Claszmann, P. Rott and F. Engelmann New Technologies for Indexing Crops for Pathogens 71 l. W Randles Molecular Tools for Indexing in Sugarcane 75 K.s. Braithwaite and C.R. Smith Indexing of Potato Tubers for the Presence of Ring Rot and Brown Rot 79 AC. Hayward The Victorian Certified Seed Potato Scheme 83 l. Moran and R. Osborn The Safe Movement of Musa GermpJasm 85 D.R. lanes Indexing and Establishing Disease-Free Germplasm of Pome and Stone Fruit Crops 90 S.S. Hurtt and H.E. Waterworth Detection of Latent Viruses and Double-Stranded RNAs in Clonal Grasses During Post-Entry Quarantine 95 K.c. Davis and M.R. Gillings Major Quarantinable Diseases of Sugarcane Pest Risk Analysis and Its Implications for Pe~t and Disease Exclusion in International Germplasm Exchange 100 S. Singh Sugarcane Bacilliform Virus, Sugarcane Mild Mosaic Virus and Sugarcane Yellow Leaf Syndrome 108 B.E.L. Lockhart, M.l. lrey and l.C. Comstock Downy Mildew, Ramu Stunt and Ramu Orange Leaf 113 R. C. Magarey Ratoon Stunting Disease 116 S. Saumtally, A Dookun and L.l.C. Autrey Gumming Disease 1I8 S. Saumtally, A Dookun and L.J. C. Autrey Sugarcane Mosaic and Fiji Disease 120 G.R. Smith Leaf Scald Disease 123 P. Roft Red Leaf Mottle 125 P. Roft Smut, Streak Virus and New Reovirus 126 RA Bailey Workshop Summaries Disease Risk Analysis and Strategic Planning for Conservation and Exchange of Sugarcane Germplasm 130 P.lL Whittle and P.H. Twine vi Objectives of the Workshop c.c. Ryan* MOST SUGARCANE INDUSTRIES around the world have been established as a result of the introduction of sugarcane from other regions. Quarantine has played an important role in restricting the spread of sugarcane pests and diseases around the world. The recent discovery of several new diseases and the detection of some of these in quar­ antine and in germplasm collections necessitate a systematic review of the implications for future exchange and conservation of sugarcane germplasm. The long term objective is to have implemented 'best practice' for germplasm conser­ vation and exchange by all groups involved in international sugarcane germ plasm conser­ vation and exchange. This workshop planned a program to enable the exchange of germ­ plasm with known disease status. To achieve this, the