Quantification of brown rust infection in sugar cane progeny/Cuantificacion de la infeccion por roya parda en progenies de cana de azucar

Brown rust is one of the most important diseases for sugar cane worldwide. In Cuba, resistance to the disease is a criterion for the selection of new cultivars and it is evaluated in the genetic improvement program from early stages. This work was developed with the objective of quantifying, in Clonal Lot Stage 1, the incidence and severity of brown rust by crosses. For this purpose, data were collected from individuals managed by the genetic improvement program in the southeastern region of Cuba. The variables degree, incidence and severity of the disease among families and parents were determined. Results showed that there is high variability in the development of brown rust in Clonal Lot 1. The degree and severity variables are the most useful for identifying families with progenies resistant or tolerant to the disease. The C90-501 x Mex66-1235 and C90-501 x B6368 families provide high yielding individuals with resistance to brown rust. The analysis allows breeders to develop crosses that provide high-yielding sugarcane and sugar individuals with resistance to the disease.