Saccharum hybrid cultivar Genome sequencing

Ratoon stunting disease (RSD) caused by bacterium Leifsoniaxyli subsp. xyli (Lxx), is a devastating disease of sugarcane over a large part of the world. Though genetic improvement for RSD-resistant varieties is considered the most effective method to control the disease, genetic improvement of sugarcane is hindered by the limited information about the molecular mechanisms underlying Lxx pathogenicity and defense responses in sugarcane. Genome-wide gene expression profiling was used to compare RSD resistant (CP72-2086) and RSD susceptible (GT11) genotypes at different infection time points in order to identify the candidate regulators for RSD.