OverviewPrevious research identified sugarcane streak mosaic virus (SCSMV) as a widespread disease of high significance to the current Javan-based sugarcane industry.

The disease is also significant in the production of sugarcane in expanding areas, particularly West Papua. It was only relatively recently identified and was implicated in less than 80 per cent of crops displaying visual mosaic-type symptoms in a survey of 931 crops in Java.

A significant proportion of commercial varieties are susceptible to the disease, with only two popular varieties rated as resistant. Commercial cane farmers have few options for disease control.

Disease-free nursery material is a key strategy needing strong implementation. There are many facets of the disease that need researching in order for an effective integrated disease management (IDM) strategy to be implemented. This applies not only to Java, but also Sumatera, Sulawesi, Sumba and the expanding West Papua region. Such a strategy is likely to include disease-free planting material, resistant varieties and the termination of heavily-diseased, susceptible crops.

Integrated disease management of sugarcane streak mosaic in Indonesia

ACIAR project number

HORT 2012 O83

Start date and duration (years)

1 October 2014, 4.5 years

Location South-East Asia

Budget $978,796

Project leader(s) and Commissioned OrganisationDr Rob Magarey Sugar Research Australia

Partner country project leaders and their institutionsAri Kristini Indonesian Sugar Research Institute

Dr Titiek Yulianti Indonesian Sweetener and Fibre Crop Research Institute

Professor Sri Hendrastuti Hidayat Bogor Agricultural University

ACIAR Research Program ManagerDr Richard Markham

JULY 2016

ISRI technicians inspected streak mosaic symptoms, Sumberlumbu, Kediri Photo: Etik

2

Research1. Assess the importance of SCSMV in Indonesia

by defining the distribution and incidence of the disease in Java, Sumatera, Sumba and Sulawesi.

2. Determine the potential for disease escalation and the conditions required to maintain disease-free nursery cane by investigating SCSMV epidemiology

3. Identify the resistance of varieties in order for farmers to minimise the level of SCSMV in their crops by developing a rapid varietal resistance screen

4. Assess the economic importance of SCSM in Indonesia by defining the yield losses caused by the disease

5. Enable the Indonesian farming community to reduce disease incidence in newly-planted crops by identifying SCSMV in nursery cane through a cheap, rapid detection technique

6. Reduce SCSM crop incidence through the adoption of an effective integrated disease management (IDM) strategy.

Achievements » Transmission experiments investigating

mechanical and insect vectors have so far shown that infected juice applied to abraded leaves leads to the highest disease levels

» Monitoring of diseased crops is providing valuable information on spread in the field—which is in cases rapid

» Rapid diagnostic test development using both molecular and antibody-based methods has delivered specific diagnostic tests—further refinement is needed

» Yield loss experiments have been planted and will be harvested during 2016

» Insects collected from diseased crops have been screened for the virus; some positive individuals were recorded, but further analyses are needed.

Field workers during planting time. Jengkol, Kediri. Photo: Rizal

AImpact story In the first year of the project, opportunity arose to involve the management of a number of the sugar manufacturing companies in different aspects of the project. Indonesian project staff met with the Boards of several factories and outlined the scope of the planned research. This approach resulted in good cooperation between the Indonesian Sugar Research Institute, its stakeholders, sugar companies and sugarcane farmers.

As a result there has been good support for project activities. This was evidenced by the sugar company PTPN 10, (Pesantren Baru Sugar Factory, located at Kediri, East Java), offering to conduct field experiments in their factory area. Experiments located there include a trial investigating disease epidemiology and yield loss. Sugar companies in West Java and Sumatera are also very happy to be involved in project work, initially in a survey to be conducted in August 2016.

These factories include PT Rajawali Nusantara 2 (including Jatitujuh sugar factory), PTPN 7 (Cintamanis and Bungamayang sugar factories). Cane farmers in Lampung will also be involved. On a side-note, the big sugar company PT Gunung Madu Plantation, located in Sumatera, initially rejected the offer to be involved in the survey, but then they expressed a keen desire to be involved after the project team visited and explained the potential benefits of the survey. This highlights the value of effective communication and extension targeted at the right audience. This is the ongoing aim of the project team and will become increasingly important as important IDM strategies are identified.