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Title: SUMMARY OF ISSCT PATHOLOGY WORKSHOP VII

Author
item HOY, J. - LSU AGRICULTURE CENTER
item Grisham, Michael
item Comstock, Jack

Submitted to: Sugar Journal
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/20/2004
Publication Date: 2/20/2004
Citation: Hoy, J.W., Grisham, M.P., Comstock, J.C. 2004. Summary of ISSCT Pathology Workshop VII. Sugar Journal. 66(9):16-18.

Interpretive Summary: The Seventh Sugarcane Pathology Workshop of the International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists that was held in Louisiana May 11-16, 2003. The workshop was hosted by the American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists in collaboration with the Louisiana State University AgCenter and the United States Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, Sugarcane Research Unit. Thirty-seven participants from 15 countries attended and presented 24 papers and 9 posters covering all aspects of sugarcane pathology. The topic that generated the most research reports was sugarcane yellow leaf disease, a virus-caused disease that has emerged as an important problem around the world. Other topics discussed were pathogen variability of sugarcane streak mosaic virus, the viruses that cause mosaic, smut, ratoon stunting disease, and the bacteria in the genus, Xanthomonas. Attendees discussed pathogen concerns in each of their home countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Fiji, France, Guatemala, India, Mauritius, Nicaragua, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand and the United States). A bus tour of the Louisiana sugarcane industry included stops at the USDA, ARS, Sugarcane Research Unit in Houma; the Kleentek® seedcane farm in Bayou Dularge, Laural Valley Plantation in Thibodaux, and the LSU AgCenter Sugar Research Station at St. Gabriel. A two-day post-workshop tour of the Florida sugarcane industry was held May 19-20. Visits were made to the USDA, ARS, Sugarcane Field Station at Canal Point, the University of Florida IFAS Everglades Research and Extension Center at Belle Glade and the research facilities of US Sugar Corporation at Clewiston. The variety development and pathology research programs were reviewed at each location.

Technical Abstract: The Seventh International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists Pathology Workshop was held in Louisiana, USA from May 11-16, 2003. The workshop was hosted by the American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists in collaboration with the Louisiana State University AgCenter and the United States Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, Sugarcane Research Unit. The theme of the workshop was 'Advances and Challenges in Sugarcane Pathology.' There were 37 participants from 15 countries, including Argentina (1), Australia (2), Brazil (3), Colombia (1), Ecuador (1), Fiji (1), France (5), Guatemala (1), India (1), Mauritius (2), Nicaragua (1), Philippines (1), South Africa (2), Thailand (1), and the USA (14). Scientific information was presented in 24 verbal and nine poster presentations in sessions held over two days in a small conference facility at the LSU Burden Research Plantation in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The largest number of papers (15) dealt with various aspects of virus diseases, particularly the recently recognized disease caused by sugarcane yellow leaf virus. New information also was presented about variability in an old disease, mosaic, the occurrence of mosaic symptoms in Asia caused by sugarcane streak mosaic virus, and resistance to Fiji disease virus. Fungal, bacterial and general sugarcane disease sessions also were held, and diverse topics on a variety of pathogens and diseases were addressed. Following the two days of research presentations, the group visited and received a tour of the research facilities of the USDA-ARS Sugarcane Research Unit in Houma, Louisiana, the Kleentek® seedcane farm, where commercial healthy seedcane is produced for the Louisiana sugarcane industry, and the LSU AgCenter Sugar Research Station at St. Gabriel, Louisiana. A post-workshop tour of the Florida sugarcane industry and sugarcane research facilities was held May 19-20, 2003. The group visited the USDA-ARS Sugarcane Field Station at Canal Point, the Everglades Research and Extension Center, University of Florida IFAS at Belle Glade, and the Research Department of the US Sugar Corporation in Clewiston.