Comparison of Five DNA Extraction Methods for Detection of Leaf Scald in Sugarcane Through PCR

The sugarcane cultivation in Brazil is expanding. The production area has increased considerably in 2011, most significantly in the states of Minas Gerais (83,100 ha), Mato Grosso do Sul (84,700 ha), Goiás (79,110 ha) and Mato Grosso (13 040 ha) Conab–Companhia Nacional de Abastecimento [1]. In these states, besides increasing the crop area, new processing plants began operating in the last cropping season. Even with those investments, the domestic production by the sugarcane industry in 2011/2012 was 8.4% lower than in previous years. This decrease was due to a number of factors. Among them, sanitary problems are remarkable, with increased incidence of sugarcane diseases. The producers have increased the number of cultivated areas to minimize reduction in productivity. The expansion resulted in the multiplication of sugarcane grown areas with no control or treatment of diseases. According to Gatti, sugarcane diseases are very serious; since they cause cultivar degeneration, requiring periodic replacement of crops. Leaf scald is one of the most important worldwide diseases of sugarcane Birch [2]. Xanthomonas albilineans, the causal agent of Leaf Scald, has great destructive potential, capable of causing stalk malformation and tillers death, with subsequent reduction in sucrose content and yield losses. When the disease is present in extremely susceptible cultivars, it may cause losses of up to 100% Tokeshi and Rago [3].