Sugarcane yellow leaf virus on sugarcane: the current status of biology and management

Sugarcane yellow leaf virus (SCYLV) infects sugarcane worldwide and is the causal agent of yellow leaf disease. It is largely disseminated by infected planting material but is also transmitted by the sugarcane aphid along with several other aphid species. Symptoms of SCYLV include yellowing of the leaf midrib that typically appears as the crop matures, usually after about 9 mo of active growth. While infections are largely asymptomatic, yield losses are still observed. This virus causes substantial damage by reducing biomass and sugar recovery rates, directly affecting yield and profitability. The available detection methods, including serological assays and molecular tests, are increasingly valuable given the variable symptomology following infection. A key management strategy is to plant virus-tested, certified seed cane. Because chemical control options are limited in sugarcane, using aphid-resistant cultivars combined with continued research to develop SCYLV-resistant cultivars are effective approaches to reduce SCYLV spread. A review of the virus biology, distribution, transmission, and management is presented.