THE RESISTANCE OF THE AUSTRALIAN SUGARCANE GERMPLASM TO DISEASES IN QUEENSLAND

THE POSSESSION of sufficient disease resistance is an important parameter for optimising yield in commercial varieties in Queensland. To ensure commercial canes have adequate resistance, all promising clones in the BSES plant improvement program are screened for resistance to a range of diseases using diverse screening techniques. This activity constitutes one of the major roles for BSES pathology staff. This paper briefly describes the techniques used, and summarises the resistance of clones and varieties in Australia. Trends in resistance over time are examined and the most important implications are highlighted. There is a relatively low level of resistance to smut in the Australian germplasm, but a high level of resistance to orange rust, leaf scald and Fiji leaf gall.