Identification of sugarcane lines with resistance to red rot

The experiment was conducted during 2002-2010 to evaluate the resistance to red rot in Sugarcane clones at different varietal selection stages started from seedling to final varietal trials (Seedling, Nursery I, II, III, Semifinal and Final varietal trials). All the clones included in this experiment were of USA origin, the fuzz of which was received from Canal Point, America during 2001-02. The varietal screening to the disease was carried out in two phases. In Phase I, seedling and Nursery I were screened under natural conditions while in 2 nd phase, the clones of Nursery II, III, Semi-final and Final varietal trials were tested for disease resistance through artificial inoculation using Plug technique during last week of July and 1 st week of August. The varietal resistance was assessed by splitting the inoculated cane after two months using 0-9 disease rating scale. During 2002-2003, 20401 seedlings were planted and the following year, 1252 resistant plants were promoted to Nursery I and from Nursery I, 367 resistant lines were promoted to 2 nd Phase, in Nursery II. At this stage, 258 lines were found resistant and 255 lines were promoted up to Nursery III. At this stage, 199 clones had resistant reaction. Forty seven (47) resistant lines were advanced to the Semi-final varietal trial and from this stage; 21 resistant lines were promoted to Final varietal trial. In this trial, 14 lines were identified as resistant to the disease. These promising lines were further tested for two years for their resistance to red rot. Eight promising lines i.e. S2002US-637, S2003-US-114, S2003-US-127, S2003-US-623, S2003-US-633, S2003-US-694, S2003-US-718 and S2003-US-778 were recommended as pipeline varieties on the basis of their better performance. Two pipeline varieties i.e. S2002-US-637 and S2003-US-623, named as CPF-246 and CPF-247 respectively were approved for commercial cultivation during the year 2011.