Browsing by Author "Croft, BJ"

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A review of yield losses caused by Australian and selected exotic sugarcane diseases : SRDC final report BS1725
(BSES, 1996) Magarey, RC; Croft, BJ
Yield loss studies of Australian endemic diseases, and those exotic diseases posing the greatest threat to production in Australia, are reviewed. There is a need for much research particularly in relating disease intensity with yield and in investigating the effect of varietal resistance on this relationship. It is suggested that initial studies begin with yellow spot and rust, and should include sugarcane bacilliform virus and yellow leaf syndrome when techniques for handling these diseases improve. Priorities for further research should be reviewed at the conclusion of the initial yield loss research. The effect of the important exotic disease, smut, has been well researched overseas.
Acquisition of Fiji disease virus by Perkinsiella saccharicida kirk and observations on its instars
(BSES, 1984) Croft, BJ; Ryan, CC
The first, second and third instars of Perkinsiella saccharicida were the only stages which transmitted Fiji disease virus to healthy Q70 plants after a 48 hour access feed on diseased plants. A key to distinguish the developmental stages of P.saccharicida was developed with the main distinguishing features being eye colour, and the shape, length and relationship, one to the other, of the fore and hind wing pads.
AGR2008150 : Provision of research and development services for the Ord Sugarcane project
(2009) Croft, BJ; Webb, B; Piperidis, G
BSES has provided the research and extension services to the Ord River Irrigation Area (ORIA) sugar industry under a cooperative agreement with the WA Dept of Agriculture and Food since 2003. This contract was terminated in April 2008 after the Ord sugar mill ceased operations in 2007. A new contract was signed to provide continued Plant breeding and plant pathology services to WA Dept of Agriculture and Food to continue plant-breeding trials, inspect sugarcane plots for diseases and pests and to advise WA Dept of Agriculture and Food on maintenance of sugarcane varieties so they could be available for potential new sugar industries in the ORIA.
AGR2008150 : Provision of research and development services for the Ord Sugarcane project
(2010) Croft, BJ; Webb, B; Piperidis, G
The requirements for year 2 of the contract for the delivery of research and development services to the Ord sugar project have been fully achieved. The harvest results from two second ratoon, two first ratoon and two plant crop yield trials were analysed using BSES statistical procedures and the analysed results were provided to the WA Dept of Agriculture and Food. These data were used to identify promising new varieties for further propagation. Barry Croft, BSES Program leader biosecurity (Plant pathologist), and George Piperidis, BSES Program Leader Variety Adoption (Plant Breeder), visited the Ord from the 24-27 May 2010. They inspected selected varieties in yield trials and propagation plots for sugarcane smut, top rot and other diseases and made notes on growth of the varieties. Recommendations were made on the maintenance and further propagation of varieties that have performed well in yield trials and have acceptable reaction to sugarcane smut and top rot. A heavy infestation of scale insects was noted on a few varieties in the 2008 propagation plot in block 6B. These insects have been seen before but this was a particularly severe infestation and the variety Q208 which has performed well in the Ord and is the major variety in Queensland was one of the varieties affected. A borer that was attacking rice was collected. BSES is currently involved in an Australian Centre for Agricultural Research (ACIAR) funded project investigating biological control of borer species attacking sugarcane in Indonesia. Part of this study is to collaborate with other research groups that are DNA barcoding endemic and exotic moth borers and these samples will be submitted for DNA barcoding.
Bioassay for comparing levels of pythium graminicola in soils
(BSES, 1987) Croft, BJ
In the study of any soil borne pathogen it is essential to have some technique for determining the level of the pathogen in the soil. The levels of Pythium species in soil have been measured by soil dilution plating on selective media (Dick and Ali-Shtayeh 1986. Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc. 86(1):49-62). However species with lobulate sporangia are not frequently isolated on these media and bioassay techniques have been developed for these fungi (Stanghellini and Kronland 1985. Phytopathology 75:1242-1245). In Hawaii, pineapple roots have been used as baits in a bioassay for P. graminicola Subr. (Adair 1972. Hawaii. Plant. Rec. 58:213-240). However, considerable space is required to maintain pineapple plants and they are not always readily available. Poor Root Syndrome (PRS) of sugarcane in Queensland causes serious crop losses (Egan et al. 1984 ASSCT p 1-9). A Pachymetra sp. (formerly referred to as the root rot fungus) which rots the primary roots of the sugarcane plant, and P. graminicola which can restrict fine root development, are two pathogens consistently found in affected soils (Croft and Magarey, 1984 ASSCT Conf. p 55-61). The study of the role of P. graminicola in the sugarcane PRS in Queensland has been hampered by the lack of a means of quantifying the level of this species in soils. This paper outlines the development of a sorghum bioassay (SB) for P. graminicola using sorghum seedling roots.
BS172S Pathogen risk analysis to prioritise research and quarantine needs of the Australian Sugar Industry
(BSES, 1996) Croft, BJ
Sugarcane smut and RSD occur at a high incidence and severity in the Indonesian sugar industry. Indonesia plans to close small factories and plantations on Java and establish new plantations on Irian Jaya, East Timor and Sulawesi. Movement of cane diseases in particular smut to these islands, which are closer to Australia, must be considered a major threat to the Australian Sugar Industry. Immediate discussions should be commenced to develop a plan to assist the Indonesians to prevent diseases from entering these new plantations, especially on Irian Jaya.The Indonesian Sugar Research Institute strongly supports our proposed ACIAR project. The Institute has good facilities and should provide a good partner in attempts to improve quarantine in the region.Other diseases of quarantine significance to Australia in Indonesia are leaf scorch which occurs on Sumatra and strain B and E of sugarcane mosaic. Downy mildew and Fiji disease occur in Irian Jaya, but not in commercial plantations.Assisting the Indonesian Sugar Industry to control diseases, especially smut, is in the long term interests of Australia as this will reduce the risk of this serious disease entering Australia
BS172S Pathogen Risk Analysis to Prioritise Research and Quarantine Needs of the Australian Sugar Industry. A Review of Sugarcane Diseases of Quarantine Risk to the Australian Sugar Industry, 1997
(BSES, 1997) Croft, BJ; Magarey, RC
The major diseases of economic importance to sugarcane have been identified and their quarantine risk for Australia has been reviewed. Twelve high to moderate risk quarantinable diseases were identified. Sugarcane smut must be considered the highest risk disease for Australia. It has a history of spread to new countries, is a major disease in all countries where it is present, both tropical and sub-tropical. Smut has recently spread to the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia and Indonesian plans to commence new sugarcane plantations on East Timor and Irian Jaya will increase the risk of smut entering Australia. Other diseases of serious risk are downy mildew, Fiji disease, Ramu stunt, mosaic and leaf scald. The first three are of particular concern because of their presence in Papua New Guinea and because of reported illegal imports of sugarcane cuttings and related species from Papua New Guinea into the Cairns region. Restriction of the movement of these diseases into or within Australia is essential for the continued competitiveness of the Australian sugar industry. All of these diseases should be considered quarantinable for Australia.
Development of a fungicide spray schedule to determine the effect of sugarcane rust (Puccinia melanocephala) on yield
(BSES, 1984) Taylor, PWJ; Croft, BJ; Ryan, CC
This study reports on work carried out to develop a fungicide spray program which is suitable for yield loss assessment investigations. Aspects examined include the efficacy of various concentrations of chlorothalonil and oxycarboxin on rust, the frequency of application of one concentration of chlorothalonil or oxycarboxin on level of infection, and arrangement of spray nozzles to give good coverage of fungicides.
Does rotating cultivars with intermediate resistance influence pachymetra root rot of sugarcane : ASSCT peer-reviewed paper
(ASSCT, 2019) Jensen, AS; Croft, BJ; Parfitt, RC; Brown, PH
Concerns have been raised by industry members over lower than expected cane yields associated with high oospore levels in sugarcane cultivars rated to have intermediate resistance to pachymetra root rot. This is a significant issue, as intermediate cultivars represent more than 70% of the sugarcane grown in Australia. It is possible that planting the same intermediate cultivar in successive crop cycles could lead to increased yield losses due to pachymetra root rot. This paper examines the residual soil-borne effect of the current major sugarcane cultivars on the following sugarcane crop in three field trials, located in the Herbert, Central and Southern growing regions. Levels of oospores of Pachymetra chaunorhiza and cane yields were assessed in ratoon crops of replicated cultivar-assessment trials and in subsequent crops of intermediate resistant Q208A (planted on the sites of previous cultivar trials). The relationships between Pachymetra oospore levels and cane yield in Q208A crops and pre-plant oospore levels were examined. High oospore levels occurred in plots planted to some intermediate cultivars, as well as susceptible cultivars. In the following crop of Q208A, which was planted into plots of the previous cultivar trial, Pachymetra oospore levels at harvest were related to oospore levels prior to re-planting at all trial sites. Cane yield (t/ha) of Q208A was significantly related to pre-plant oospore levels at a site near Bundaberg (P=0.0049). Yield losses of 21% were incurred at 120 oospores/g soil in Q208A. Cultivation of Q208A following a crop of Q208A did not result in higher Pachymetra oospore populations or yield losses compared with planting Q208A after other cultivars of similar resistance rating. In the Herbert and Central field trials, Pachymetra oospore levels were lower and there were no significant relationships between oospore levels and yield in Q208A planted at these sites. We demonstrate that significant yield losses in Q208A are associated with high Pachymetra oospore levels that occur under intermediate and susceptible cultivars in the previous crop. There was no evidence to support the hypothesis that repeatedly planting the same intermediate cultivar could lead to host-cultivar-specific virulence in P. chaunorhiza. Greater emphasis should be placed on breeding and selecting highly resistant cultivars that are suited to soil types conducive to Pachymetra
Economic analysis of RSD control strategies : final report SRDC project BS101S
(BSES, 1995) Croft, BJ; Page, JR; Bull, JK; Beattie, RN
The aim of this study was to compare the economics of the existing RSD control strategy in Australia of disease-free seed and disinfecting harvesters with breeding cultivars resistant to RSD. Analysis presented in this paper show that an effective disease-free seed scheme is economically the best RSD control strategy. Cultivar resistance would only be attractive if disease-free seed ceased to be a viable option.
Effect of Phytocercomonas venanatans, the causal agent of chlorotic streak, on yield of commercial sugarcane cultivars : ASSCT poster paper
(ASSCT, 2019) Ngo, AN; Wickramasinghe, P; Bratihwaite, KS; Croft, BJ
Effects of pachymetra root rot and nematodes on some elite sugarcane clones in Australia
(ASSCT, 2016) Bhuiyan, SA; Croft, BJ; Wong, E; Ogden-Brown, J; Turner, M; Parfitt, R; Magarey, RC; Bull, J; Cox, MC
PACHYMETRA ROOT ROT and nematodes are the two most important soil-borne pathogens of sugarcane in Australia. An experiment was established in Yandaran, Queensland in grey forest soil with high Pachymetra spore counts (>100 000 spores/kg). Fifteen elite varieties and one advanced clone, from pachymetra root rot susceptible, intermediate and resistant categories, were planted in the experiment. The experiment was maintained until the second ratoon crop and Pachymetra and nematode populations were assessed in each crop. In addition, the incidence of smut was recorded before harvesting. Cane yield (TCH), commercial cane sugar (CCS) and sugar yield (TSH) were also measured in each crop. Pachymetra spore counts remained significantly lower in resistant varieties compared to susceptible and intermediate varieties until the second ratoon. In intermediate and susceptible varieties Pachymetra spore counts increased substantially, in particular, in second ratoon. In intermediate varieties such as Q232A and Q208A Pachymetra spore counts increased more than three times from plant crop to second ratoon. Numbers of nematodes, in particular root-lesion nematode, more than doubled in the second ratoon crop compared to the plant and first ratoon crops. Only Q248A had significant levels of smut, with 25% and 30% infected plants in the first and second ratoon crops, respectively. Yield reduction was substantial in the second ratoon compared to the plant and first-ratoon crop. Sugar yield decreased by 45% in the second ratoon compared to the first ratoon. Mostly, poor or negative correlations were observed between both Pachymetra spore counts and nematode numbers and yield.
How do current ratings of sugarcane varieties for resistance to smut relate to natural infection
(ASSCT, 2018) Bhuiyan, SA; Cox, MC; Croft, BJ
SUGARCANE SMUT, CAUSED by a fungus Sporisorium scitamineum, is an important disease of sugarcane in Australia. Sugarcane smut can be managed effectively through the propagation of resistant varieties. In Sugar Research Australia’s (SRA) smut screening experiments, stalks of varieties from various stages of breeding programs are cut into one-eye setts and then dipped into a smut spore suspension (5 × 106 spores/mL water) for 10 min at 31 °C. After germination, the plants are transplanted to the field and disease incidence is measured in the plant crop and first and second ratoon crops. This method is effective for screening of a large number of varieties in a relatively short period (10–12 months) and is used in other countries. Although this method is widely accepted, it has some drawbacks: i) test plants are subject to very high disease pressure; and ii) it does not replicate natural infection. Three experiments were established in 2007, 2008 and 2009, to determine if the ratings obtained by artificial inoculation technique predict field resistance of varieties. All experiments were planted with 10 or 5 replicates of the test varieties planted between rows of infected Q205A, and maintained until second ratoon. Highly susceptible varieties Q205A and Q157 had >40% infected plants in plant crops whereas little smut was observed in intermediate and resistant varieties. Average % of smut infected plants increased in all experiments from the plant crop (5–12%) to first ratoon (21–46%) and second ratoon (26–59%) crops. The correlation coefficient values between smut incidence in the natural infection experiments and the historical ratings obtained using dip-inoculation methods ranged from r = 0.82 to 0.72, indicating a good agreement between natural infection trials and dip inoculation ratings.
Identification of resistance mechanisms in sugarcane to infection by Pachymetra : SRDC final report BS79S
(BSES, 1999) McGhie, TK; Maclean, D; Smith, GR; Croft, BJ
Project objectives- Develop techniques for studying the biochemical reactions of sugarcane to infection by Pachymetra.- Identify biochemical mechanisms of infection by Pachymetra.- Identify biochemical changes produced in sugarcane by infection with Pachymetra.- Compare the effect of chemical constituents of different sugarcane varieties on Pachymetra oospore germination and hyphal growth.- Determine which resistance mechanisms and responses of sugarcane are present in resistant varieties, ranked by glasshouse screening, as an aid to future breeding programs.
Improving planting systems for sugarcane : SRDC Final report BSS208
(2004) Robotham, BG; Croft, BJ
This project has researched the major factors affecting the establishment of a sugarcane crop. Adoption of a systems approach has resulted in an improved planting system that matches the requirements of the growing of seed cane, production of high-quality billets and meters and places the billets at rates to ensure optimum crop yields.It was initially realised that the supply of high-quality seed billets was critical to ensure an improvement in the planting system of sugarcane. Developing recommendations for growers to produce the high-quality, disease-free seed sugarcane suitable for planting billets was an essential requirement. Many cane treatments and additives were trialled, but many effective treatments were found not to be cost effective. However, many tasks were identified that growers can undertake to ensure sound and erect planting cane. The machine cutting of plants has previously been a major deficiency as mechanised harvesters were not developed to cut high quality, low damage billets. This project has quantified the requirements of a seed billet-cutting harvester and machine modifications were field tested. Sound recommendations for growing planting cane and cutting this cane to produce sound billets have been developed and extended to the industry. The development of recommendations for high-quality seed billets is a major success of this project.The project has successfully undertaken the first detailed review of the requirements and current operational performance of current billet planters. An improved billet-metering system, the first truly precision metering of billets, was developed as a replacement from the crude mass-flow metering systems of various form used by the sugarcane industry. Planter characteristics, such as billet drop height, have been addressed, as has matching the billet meter to minimum-soil-disturbance planter components.One critical operational requirement that this precision billet-metering system had to fulfil was to be compatible with the planting characteristics of the double-disc groundtool developed by BSES. This goal was achieved, and a prototype billet planter produced that incorporated the double-disc opener and the precision billet-metering system. This system allows planting rates to be halved compared to the rates of current billet planters, but the use of high-quality seed billets is an essential requirement of this new system. The developed metering system is a radical departure from the elevating slat-type meters current used on all billet planters and commercialisation of this planting system must be carefully planned.When proposed, a significant outcome of this project was to investigate and develop technologies to protect planting billets by coatings that would prevent the ingress of rotting diseases and slow desiccation of the billet. Much knowledge has been acquired and future studies are suggested, but current technology is not considered suitable for commercial usage.Adoption of all the technologies developed within this project will take time, but industry awareness of the need for change is high. The adoption process is well advanced, although adoption varies between canegrowing regions. Due to the current state of the sugarcane industry, adoption will occur in a series of steps, but this is considered appropriate, as growers can learn as they adopt new components of the system. Certain components of the system must be adopted prior to others. For example, the production of high-quality planting billets is an essential requirement, but is applicable to all growers irrespective of what type of planter they use.This project clearly illustrates the value of a multi-discipline team adopting a systems approach to a major sugarcane industry problem.
Improving the Plant breeding selection system for Fiji Disease Resistance : SRDC final report BSS255
(2005) Croft, BJ; Ridley, AW; Dhileepan, K; James, AP
Fiji leaf gall (FLG) has caused major epidemics in the Australian sugar industry in the past. All new cultivars of sugarcane released in areas affected by FLG should be resistant to the disease. New cultivars have been tested for resistance in field trials in the past but the field trials are unreliable with only a third of trials in the last 28 years giving reliable ratings. The aim of this project was to develop a method of rating clones for resistance to FLG that would be accurate, reliable and practical to implement in the BSES-CSIRO variety improvement program.
Influence of harvester basecutters on ratooning of sugarcane : SRDC Final report BSS123
(2005) Hurney, AP; Croft, BJ; Grace, D; Richards, DR
Current single row mechanical sugarcane harvesters use twin rotary basecutters with multiple blades to produce an impact cut in the stalk at or near ground level. However, the cane stubble is often damaged during harvesting, which is considered to be caused by the basecutter. Many instances of poor ratooning have been attributed to either basecutter damage increasing the risk of infection by stalk diseases, or due to a reduction in the number of viable buds. While this matter was discussed regularly, there were no data that quantified the level of damage occurring in the field or the relationship between stubble damage and ratooning. In addition, if stubble damage was affecting ratooning, harvesting and cultural practices contributing to stubble damage need to be identified. This was addressed in this project by conducting surveys in harvested fields in the Tully, Burdekin and Mackay districts to assess the level of damage that occurred during harvest.
Inheritance of resistance to pachymetra root rot : SRDC final report BS27S
(BSES, 1994) Croft, BJ; Berding, N
Genetical resistance to root pathogens is a sensible strategy for disease control in a perennial crop such as sugarcane. Pachymetra root rot is a serious disease in Queensland and can cause losses of 30-40% in susceptible varieties. An understanding of the mode of inheritance of resistance is important in developing breeding strategies.
Literature review of methods of improving the germination of sugarcane : SRDC final report BSS208
(2000) Croft, BJ
Sugarcane is propagated from vegetative cuttings of the stalk (setts or billets). The cuttings can be planted by hand or through mechanical whole-stalk or billet planters. Billet planters have given variable results because of damage to the billets and uneven delivery of the billets into the furrows. Germination of the buds on the sugarcane cuttings is affected by temperature, moisture in the sett and the soil, plant hormones and the availability and rate of release of reducing sugars (eg glucose) within setts. Pineapple disease caused by the fungus, Ceratocystis paradoxa, rots setts of cane and can cause total germination failures. Wireworms (Agrypnus variabilis and Heteroderes spp) attack the buds and can cause poor germination.The speed of germination and the percentage of buds that germinate can be improved by soaking setts in water, short hot water treatment, pre-treatment of planting material with nutrients including nitrogen and application of mercurial fungicides. Except for the fungicide, these treatments have practical problems for application in commercial planting. Coating setts with materials to protect them from fungal and insect attack and to provide ideal conditions for germination is an attractive concept but no practical methods for achieving this concept have been reported.
New germplasm to develop more productive varieties with enhanced resistance to nematodes, pachymetra root rot and smut : final report 2011/344
(Sugar Research Australia Limited, 2016) Croft, BJ
Sugarcane industries around the world were transformed in the early 1900s when Dutch plant breeders working in Indonesia, and Indian breeders, working independently, developed sugarcane varieties derived from the wild relative called Saccharum spontaneum. Crossing sugarcane with wild relatives, and the subsequent backcrossing of progeny to sugarcane to regain sufficiently high sugar content for commercial production is known as introgression breeding. The wild relative added higher yield, extra vigour, longer ratoons and disease resistance to the original sugarcane, S. officinarum. Most modern sugarcane varieties can be traced back to a very small number of these early crosses with the wild Saccharum spontaneum. In Asia and the Pacific region, there is a vast source of variation within wild sugarcane relatives that could potentially provide commercial sugarcane with new genes to improve yield, stress resistance, ratooning ability and disease resistance. One wild sugarcane relative that was recently successfully crossed with sugarcane in China, Erianthus arundinaceus, is highly drought tolerant, almost immune to pachymetra root rot and is highly resistant to nematodes. SRA and CSIRO researchers have worked closely in this project to build on earlier projects to introduce new traits into the Australian sugarcane breeding population from wild relatives of sugarcane. The project screened the available introgression clones for yield, pachymetra root rot, lesion nematode, root-knot nematode and smut resistance and made new crosses to further improve the introgression clones. One clone derived from Erianthus, KQ08-1040, performed better than the average of the standards for yield in final assessment trials in the Central regions. This clone was also one of the best parent clones in progeny assessment trials. KQ08-1040 will be further assessed as a potential commercial variety and could be the first sugarcane variety anywhere in the world to have Erianthus as a progenitor. A number of other introgression clones from crosses with Saccharum spontaneum, Saccharum robustum and Erianthus procerus performed well as clones or as parents in yield trials in the Burdekin, Central, South and NSW regions. The clones are currently being tested in the Herbert and North regions.