VARIETAL RESPONSE OF SUGARCANE AGAINST THE INFECTION OF SUGARCANE MOSAIC VIRUS (SCMV) IN PUNJAB PAKISTAN

Abstract

Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) is among many viruses that infect sugarcane, cause yield loss, and become serious disease agents on sugarcane plantations. Since the morphological symptoms of SCMV are like other symptoms caused by Sugarcane streak mosaic virus (SCSMV) or nitrogen deficiency, the detection of SCMV is important through accurate diagnostic-like ELISA or RT-PCR. This research aimed to study the causative mosaic pathogen of SCMV in Punjab, Pakistan, including mosaic development. The results showed that the mosaic symptom is present in all sugarcane plantations with 78% and 65% disease incidence and severity, respectively. Moreover, the detection procedure based on an amplification of cDNA of the coat protein gene sequence confirmed that SCMV was the causative agent of mosaic disease on sugarcane. Re-inoculation of healthy sugarcane plants with plant sap from a symptomatic leaf from the field showed similar mosaic or yellowish chlorotic areas on the leaf blade and appeared on the fourth leaves upward from the inoculation leaf, in addition to showing different levels of peroxidase but not total phenol.
Mosaic also correlated with the amount of total chlorophyll. Although Sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) protein accumulation and activity were at a lower level in infected leaves, sucrose accumulation was at a higher level in the same leaves.