PCR Detection of Ratoon Stunting Disease in Sugarcane Nursery

Abstract Disease detection of sugarcane nurseries is very important because it could prevent the spread of systemic diseases that are carried from the nursery to the production fields. One of the diseases transmitted by seed is Ratoon Stunting Disease (RSD) caused by a bacterial pathogen, Leifsonia xyli sub.sp. xyli. In this study Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method was used to detect the existence of RSD on a collection of sugarcane clones. The purpose of this study is to ensure that sugarcane varieties in nursery are free from RSD. The PCR method began with DNA extraction of three varieties of sugarcane collection. DNA is extracted from stalk and midribs of sugarcane leaves. The results of DNA extraction were then carried out by PCR using specific primers, they are Cxx1 and Cxx2. The PCR results will be proceed to electroforesis step to optain the DNA band. Sugarcane samples consisted of three clones, namely A1, A2, and A3. The samples were isolated from sugarcane stems and midribs. The aged of sugarcane clones used in the study was about 3 months. The results showed that three sugarcane clones wear positive for RSD.