Susceptibility of Some Sugarcane Varieties to the Heat Treatment Used in the Control of Chlorotic Streak

Abstract

Chlorotic streak, a virus disease of sugarcane, is known to occur in Puerto Rico and to cause a reduction in germination, tillering, and yield of sugarcane per acre. Immersion of the infected cane in hot water at 52° C. for 20 minutes inactivated the virus and increased the yield of cane and sugar. It is also known that the hot-water treatment may adversely affect the germination of the different varieties. Thirteen of the best sugarcane varieties as recommended by this Agricultural Experiment Station were tested for susceptibility to the hot-water treatment. The treatment adversely affected the germination percentage of M. 336, B. 41227, and Co. 281. It stimulated the germination of varieties H. 328560, P.R. 1000, B. 37161, B. 40105, B. 37172, B. 371933, P.R. 907, and P.R. 902. It had no significant effect on the germination of P.R. 905 and P.R. 980.