Incidence and detection of wilting pathogen and Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) in Pakistan

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is a perennial grass, and it is cultivated worldwide for sugar and bioethanol production. During 2020-2021, countrywide field surveys were conducted and indicated the incidence of numerous phytopathogens in sugarcane crop. Infected sugarcane plants showed stunted growth, wilting, leaf yellowing and mosaic pattern in major sugarcane growing provinces of Pakistan (Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa). Diseased plants were collected for the isolation of diseases-causing pathogen. Wilted canes were cut and placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) media, and after few days, pathogen was successfully grown on media. Based on fungal morphology and DNA sequence analysis, it was characterized and identified as Fusarium sacchari. Diseased sugarcane samples, showing mosaic symptoms, were collected from 57 locations and were subjected to ELISA test. Out of 570 symptomatic samples, 40 samples were tested positive for Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV). These results revealed a higher disease incidence rate (7.01%) of SCMV. This is the first report of countrywide incidence of SCMV in Pakistan.