Abstract:Sugarcane yellow leaf disease (SCYLD) is a prevalent and serious viral disease. Breeding of disease-resistance varieties is the most efficient and economical way to control the infection and overspread of the disease. Using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), tissue blot immunoassay (TBIA) and direct-antigen coating enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAC-ELISA) methods, the presence of SCYLD pathogen, Sugarcane yellow leaf virus (SCYLV), was diagnosed in 43 major crossing parental clones. Incidence of SCYLD was also investigated upon natural infection of SCYLV in the field. Definitive data were obtained for 36 clones, of which 32 (88.9%) were infected with the SCYLV. The disease incidence was rated either as symptom-free, low, medium, or high. There were significant differences (P<0.01) among these ratings based on ANOVA analysis. The disease incidence ratings of 16 clones were above the medium level, including most of the CP and HoCP clones introduced from the U.S. The Yacheng (YC) and ROC clones were rated either symptom-free or low, indicating that these domestic YC and ROC clones can be utilized as SCYLV-resistant parents in sugarcane breeding.