Thirty local sugar cane (
Saccharum
spp.) accessions were evaluated and
characterised for smut (
Ustilago scitammeaSyd
.) resistance during four
years under field conditions. The results showed that nine accessions, BD-07,
KN-08, LS-01, OG-07, OY-10, OY-11, OY-16, OY-22 and OY-26, were resistant and
had high brix content and other useful yield related traits. Their reaction to
smut under natural and artificial infection indicated that they are naturally
adapted to the smut fungus. The accessions might be safely grown in areas of low
smut inoculum density without chemical control. The nine accessions are
recommended for incorporation in sugar cane breeding schemes for high yield and
smut resistance.
