Genetic transformation and pyramiding of aprotinin-expressing sugarcane with cry1Ab for shoot borer (Chilo infuscatellus) resistance.

We evaluated the insecticidal toxicity of Cry1Aa, Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac toxins against neonate larvae of sugarcane shoot borer Chilo infuscatellus Snellen (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in vitro on diet surface. With the lowest LC(50) value, Cry1Ab emerged as the most effective among the three toxins. Sugarcane cultivars Co 86032 and CoJ 64 were transformed with cry1Ab gene driven by maize ubiquitin promoter through particle bombardment and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation systems.

Identification of new variants of SCMV causing sugarcane mosaic in India and assessing their genetic diversity in relation to SCMV type strains.

Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) is one of the two causative viruses of mosaic in sugarcane, a sugar crop widely grown under tropical and subtropical conditions worldwide. Although molecular characterization of SCMV strains was reported from many countries, strains occurring in India, a major sugarcane producer have not been reported so far. Twenty-six sugarcane samples represented by seven major sugarcane growing states in India and USA were subjected to reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using a pair of newly designed coat protein specific primers.

Identification of three genotypes of sugarcane yellow leaf virus causing yellow leaf disease from India and their molecular characterization.

Sugarcane yellow leaf virus (SCYLV) that causes yellow leaf disease (YLD) in sugarcane (recently reported in India) belongs to Polerovirus. Detailed studies were conducted to characterize the virus based on partial open reading frames (ORFs) 1 and 2 and complete ORFs 3 and 4 sequences in their genome. Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed on 48 sugarcane leaf samples to detect the virus using a specific set of primers.

Characterization and genetic diversity of sugarcane streak mosaic virus causing mosaic in sugarcane.

Sixty-three sugarcane leaf samples were collected from fifty-eight sugarcane varieties, evolved from eleven major sugarcane growing states in India, Australia, South Africa and USA. In RT-PCR, using gene specific primers for sugarcane streak mosaic virus (SCSMV)-CP, 58 of 63 sugarcane samples were found positive to the virus infection and rest of the five samples were negative. Partial CP gene sequences of 42 SCSMV isolates including an isolate from aphid colony (Melanaphis indosacchari) infested on sugarcane variety from this study were characterized after cloning and sequencing for selective isolates represented by at least one isolate from each location.

Antifungal activity of chitinases produced by some fluorescent pseudomonads against Colletotrichum falcatum Went causing red rot disease in sugarcane.

Chitinase production and growth of certain fluorescent pseudomonads isolated from sugarcane rhizosphere on different subtrates were studied. When chitin was substituted for glycerol in King's B medium, 3 of the 4 strains showed enhanced bacterial multiplication. Bacterial cells grown on chitin-containing medium showed enhanced antifungal activity against Colletotrichum falcatum Went causing red rot disease in sugarcane.

Detection of sugarcane bacilliform virus in sugarcane germplasm.

Sugarcane bacilliform virus (SCBV), a badnavirus was found in sugarcane genotypes of Saccharum officinarum L., S. barberi Jesw.

In vitro propagation of a Saccharum officinarum (L.) and Sclerostachya fusca (Roxb.) A. Camus hybrid.

Callus induction and plant differentiation were obtained in an intergeneric hybrid of Saccharum officinarum and Sclerostachya fusca. The sub clones showed morphological variation. Chromosome numerical variation was not observed but structural aberrations were noticed in some sub clones.

A vigorous mutant sugarcane (Saccharum sp.) clone Co 527.

A vigorous fast growing mutant which ends vegetative growth sixty days earlier than the parent variety Co 527 was isolated from gamma irradiated vegetative buds. The mutant initially segregated but stabilized in the vM4 generation. Its growth rate was almost fifty per cent higher than Co 527 beginning in the early stages of growth.