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Research Highlights of SRI - 2003/2004
SRI Imports a Drought Tolerant Variety from Mauritius
The Breeding Division of the SRI has imported a drought tolerant variety M 1186/86 (bread from M555/60 and M 376/64), from Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute and has already made arrangements to plant it in the Quarantine farm before introducing to SRI breeding programme for further test under local conditions. This variety had been released for commercial cultivation in Mauritius in early 2001 considering it’s tolerance to drought, which was observed by its better performance under severe drought during 1999 in Mauritius. It is also a high yielding variety with average sucrose content; it performs well in ratoons also and is resistant to rust and leaf scald, slightly suceptible to smut and gumming, and highly susceptible to yellow spot.
WLD Tolerant Varieties Identified
Some of the varieties of SRI germplasm collection which have shown tolerance to WLD have been identified by the trials conducted at Siyambalanduwa. These varieties include LF 63016 and LF 78161 These varieties could be incorporated in to the varietal improvement programme of SRI to obtain WLD resistance.
An Indian expert confirms SRI recommendations on GSD/WLD
Dr Vije Singh of the Indian Council of Research expressed that the control of GSD/WLD are in line with the knowledge and the experiences on the same in India.
Dr. Vijey Sing, who specialized in virology /pathology, emphasized that the use of disease free planting material is the primary need for the successfully control of WLD. This will prevent the direct infection of the disease which causes the highest yield loss of the crop. It will also help to reduce the disease inoculums. Further he confirmed that plant hopper (Deltocephalus vulgaris) is the vector of the disease in the India and the need for confirming vector responsible for spreading the disease in Sri Lanka was also emphasized.
The visit of Dr. Vije Singh was sponsored by CARP under the expertise exchange programme. Dr. Singh visited SRI and sugarcane growing areas in Sri Lanka during his stay.