Article / Impact of sugarcane streak mosaic virus (SCSMV) on cane and sugar yields of some commercial varieties in Zuénoula, Côte d’Ivoire

Ouattara, M.M., Kouame, K.D., Cherif, M., Desbiez, C., Yao, K.J.E., Yao, K., Ble, B., De, A., Kone, N., Sorho, F., Kone, D., Schoeny, A. (2025) Impact of sugarcane streak mosaic virus (SCSMV) on cane and sugar yields of some commercial varieties in Zuénoula, Côte d’Ivoire. Journal of Crop Health, 77, 124. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10343-025-01195-9

Abstract :

Sugarcane streak mosaic virus (SCSMV) is an emerging virus in Côte d’Ivoire. First observed less than 10 years ago, it is now present in all sugar production areas, with a high prevalence in some sites and rapid increase in others. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of SCSMV on cane and sugar yields of six commercial sugarcane varieties in the Zuénoula integrated agricultural unit. Cuttings sourced from mother plants showing four different levels of disease severity were planted and monitored. Agronomic parameters and technological parameters were determined. The level of streak mosaic severity on mother plants used to produce cuttings had a significant effect on all agronomic parameters of the following crop. Overall, germination rate, tillering, plant height, stem diameter, number of internodes and cane yield at harvest were significantly reduced by 15 to 29% for plants deriving from cuttings at the highest severity level. SCSMV had no significant effect on fiber content in cane, sucrose content in cane, cane juice sucrose purity and extractable sugar content. Depending on varieties, cane yield losses and extractable sugar yield losses ranged from 13 to 34% and 15 to 42% respectively. The relationships between yield losses and severity levels in mother plants used to produce cuttings were successfully modeled by the three-parameter Gompertz function for all six sugarcane varieties tested. Considering the deleterious effect of SCSMV on cane and sugar yields, the planting of healthy cuttings is a key prophylactic measure to mitigate virus impact.