Stain Technique for Detection of Smut Hyphae in Nodal Buds of Sugarcane. O. K. Sinha, Scientist, Division of Plant Pathology, Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow 226 002, India. Kishan Singh, Director, and S. R. Misra, Scientist, Division of Plant Pathology, Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow 226 002, India. Plant Dis. 66:932-933. Accepted for publication 4 February 1982. Copyright 1982 American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-66-932.

A rapid staining technique was developed to demonstrate hyphae of Ustilago scitaminea in the growing point of nodal buds of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) within 4 hr. Hyphae were present in all the growing points of buds from diseased canes but not in buds from healthy canes. This technique can conveniently be used by quarantine stations and seed certifying agencies for screening sugarcane seed material.

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