Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 7 - AGRICULTURE AND ANIMALS
Part XIII - Seeds
Chapter 7 - Certification of Specific Crops/Varieties
Subchapter B - Grain and Row Crop Seeds
Section XIII-763 - Sugarcane (Tissue Culture) Certification Standards (Formerly section 207)

Universal Citation: LA Admin Code XIII-763

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

A. Limitation of Stand Eligibility

1. Source of foundation stock is limited only to material obtained from the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center (LSUAC) or USDA-ARS Sugarcane Research Unit sugarcane variety selection programs that has been processed through the LSUAC sugarcane quarantine program.

2. Additional propagation of original foundation stock shall be according to procedures determined by the American Sugar Cane League, LDAF, the LSUAC, and the USDA-ARS Sugarcane Research Unit.

3. Source of registered stock is limited to plantlets produced through tissue culture of foundation material or the second ratoon. Stock that meets all standards except insect and/or weeds standards be maintained in the program as seed increase fields only, but may not be marketed to producers. Such stocks are eligible for re-certification once they come in compliance with applicable regulations.

4. Source of certified stock is limited to:
a. three consecutive years from planting of registered stock; and

b. two consecutive harvests of certified stock.

B. Greenhouse Requirements

1. Foundation plants and plantlets shall be kept in certified greenhouses.

2. Certified greenhouses shall comply with the following requirements:
a. all sugarcane plants within the certified greenhouse must have been processed through the LSUAC sugarcane quarantine program;

b. greenhouses shall be clearly marked to warn workers that they shall not enter if they are coming from the field or from other non-certified greenhouses;

c. doors shall be kept locked when the greenhouse is not in use;

d. sticky traps or other monitoring devices shall be used to monitor aphids and other insects;

e. screens of such mesh as to prevent entry of aphids and other insects shall be placed over all openings (vents, fans, windows, etc.);

f. aphids, whiteflies or other harmful insects shall be controlled within the greenhouse;

g. cutting tools shall be decontaminated on a regular basis and always when moving to another group of foundation plants or plantlets;

h. different varieties must be clearly identified and separated.

3. Foundation stock shall be tested on a yearly basis for sugarcane ratoon stunting disease (RSD) and sugarcane yellowleaf virus.
a. Tissue sample testing and protocol shall be provided by the LSU Ag Center Sugarcane Disease Detection Lab. The certifier shall provide to LDAF verification that foundation stock has been tested for sugarcane ratoon stunting disease (RSD) and sugarcane yellowleaf virus.

4. LDAF must approve greenhouses before foundation plants can be entered into the certification program.

5. Inspections
a. Producer shall inspect and/or sample the greenhouse on a regular basis for harmful diseases and insects. If symptomatic plants are found either visually or by sample test results, they will be removed and destroyed. The grower will keep a log showing that inspections were made and if plants were removed.

b. If problems are observed during these inspections the producer should notify LDAF.

c. LDAF may inspect certified greenhouses several times during the year as needed. If symptomatic plants are found during these inspections they must be rogued and disposed of properly.

C. Field Inspections and Sampling

1. At least three field inspections by LDAF inspectors shall be made each year to determine if certified seedcane is being produced that apparently meets field standards.

2. The second inspection to be conducted in June by LDAF inspectors will include the collection of leaf samples for the detection of Sugarcane Yellow Leaf Virus.

3. Individual fields shall be sampled by LDAF inspectors for the detection of Sugarcane Yellow Leaf Virus according to the following guidelines.

Field Size in Acres

# Leaf Tissue Samples per Field

Less than 5 Acres *

25

5 - 10 Acres

50

Greater than 10 Acres

75

*Minimum of 25 Leaf Tissue Samples per Field

4. Tissue samples shall be submitted to the LSU Ag Center Sugarcane Disease Detection Lab for analysis.

5. LDAF shall have the right to re-inspect, re-sample and re-test fields that are out of tolerance for Sugarcane Yellow Leaf Virus prior to certification.

D. Land Requirements. The land shall be fallowed one summer from the previous crop.

E. Field Standards

Factor

Foundation

Registered

Certified

Isolation

10 ft.

10 ft.

10 ft.

Other Varieties (obvious)

None

1.00%

1.00%

Off-Type (definite)

None

1.00%

1.00%

Noxious Weeds:

Johnsongrass

None

5 Plants/Acre

5 Plants/ Acre

Itchgrass

None

1 Plant/Acre

1 Plant/ Acre

Black Nightshade

None

3 Plants/Acre

3 Plants/Acre

Harmful Diseases:

*Sugarcane Yellow Leaf Virus

None

10.00%

10.00%

**Sugarcane Mosaic

None

10.00%

10.00%

**Sugarcane Smut

None

0.50%

0.50%

Harmful Insects:

None

None

None

***Sugarcane Stem Borers

None

5.00%

5.00%

*Determined by lab analysis for the LSU Sugarcane Disease Detection Lab

**Plants exhibiting symptoms

***Determined by percentage of internodes bored

F. Stock Handling

1. General Requirements
a. During harvest, constant care should be taken in the handling of certified seed to ensure genetic identity and purity.

b. Stock shall be labeled or identified in a manner such as to represent a lot or field.

c. Planting stock shall be subject to inspection by LDAF at any time during the harvest season.

G. Reporting System

1. No certified seed tags will be issued for certified sugarcane stock.

2. The certifier shall be furnished certification forms by the LDAF and shall:
a. issue a copy of the certification form to the purchaser for each load;

b. send a copy of each issued certification form to LDAF within 10 days after each sale; and

c. maintain a copy of each issued certification form on file, which shall be available for examination by LDAF upon request.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 3:1433.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Louisiana may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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