The use of apical buds and in-vitro shoot for elimination of SCMV and shoot proliferation in sugarcane was assessed. The
purpose of this research was to determine the level of virus elimination and to obtain virus-free sugarcane. Research were using
explants of apical buds and in vitro shoots of sugarcane PS-881 cultured on MS medium supplemented with antiviral acyclovir
and ribavirin consisted of 0, 20 and 40 mg l-1 with incubation duration 4, 5 and 6 weeks. Elimination of virus-free plantlets was
detected by DAS-ELISA and RT-PCR. The results showed that the detection of RT-PCR using apical explants treated with
acyclovir 40 mg l-1 for 6 weeks was not effective to eliminate SCMV, while the use of in vitro shoot explants treated with 40 mg
l
-1 of acyclovir or 40 mg l-1 ribavirin eliminated the SCMV for about 100% resulting virus-free sugarcane plantlets. Sugarcane
virus-free propagated through somatic embryogenesis on five different induction mediums. Callus induction and proliferation
through somatic embryogenesis were obtained on MS nutrient medium with the addition of 3 mg l-1 2,4-D + 1.5 mg l-1BAP. The
result of regeneration produced ± 11 virus-free plantlets within 8 weeks.