Sugarcane Quarantine Disease Screening In Australia

Foreign sugarcane germplasm is an important source of genetic variation for the breeding programs of the Australian sugarcane industry; however there is a risk of importing exotic diseases in the germplasm. To minimise this risk, BSES (Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations) has an AQIS approved Post Entry Quarantine Facility (PEQF) in Indooroopilly to import and export sugarcane into and out of Australia. Since 1999, BSES has imported 528 varieties from 20 countries and exported Q varieties to 18 countries as more than 750 bundles of setts. Imported varieties spend two years in quarantine for disease screening, treatments and close observation for any biosecurity threats. Released varieties are micropropagated for distribution to the BSES breeding program. Exported varieties are tested for their freedom from endemic diseases before being sent to partner organisations. This paper describes the procedures for importing and exporting sugarcane, diseases of concern to the Australian sugarcane industry, the screening procedures used, and the future directions of BSES PEQF.