Promising Sugarcane Clones for Peninsular Zone, India

Abstract

Fourteen early ( Co 0204, Co 0205, Co 0209, Co 0302, Co 0306, Co 0308, Co 0310, Co 0312, Co 0314, Co 0315, CoM 0254, CoM 9902, CoM 9903 and CoVC 9982) and 17 midlate (Co 0112, Co 0211, Co 0212, Co 0213, Co 0214, Co 0215, Co 0218, Co 0219, Co 0311, Co 0317, Co 0320, Co 0325, Co 0328, CoM 0265, MS 0217, CoVC 99134 and CoVSI 03301) elite sugarcane clones developed in different research stations were evaluated across peninsular zone (14 centres) in Advanced Varietal Trial (AVT) as I and II plant and ratoon crops (2007-2009) in randomized block design with three replications. Three (CoC 671, Co 94008 and Co 85004) and two (Co 86032 and Co 7219) varieties were used as standard in early and midlate trials respectively. Analysis was done with pooled data of quality and yield contributing parameters recorded at 300 and 360 days after planting respectively for early and midlate clones. The clone Co 0314 ranked among top three in trials with an average improvement of 5.44% for CCS t/ha and 6.33 % for cane yield over CoC 671 whereas Co 0209 recorded an improvement for CCS t/ha (13.23%) and cane yield t/ha (13.40%) across the zone. Both the 88 clones have combined resistance to red rot and smut, and tolerance to other abiotic stresses. Among midlate clones Co 0212, Co 0218 and CoM 0265 ranked top three in trials for CCS (t/ha) and cane yield (t/ha) whereas Co 0218, Co 0112, Co 0311 and Co 0317 topped for CCS % and sucrose %. For yield, CoM 0265 recorded 9.22% improvement whereas Co 0218 performance was on par with best standard Co 86032. The clones Co 0218 and CoM 0265 showed improvement of 4.22% and 5.09% respectively for CCS (t/ha) over standard Co 86032. The clone Co 0218 recorded 5.0 % (1 unit) and 9.0 % (1.5 unit) improvement for sucrose % over Co 86032 and CoM 0265 respectively across the zone. Co 0218 also exhibited 5.0% improvement for CCS % over Co 86032. Co 0218 was resistant to red rot and smut. Co 0209 and Co 0314 in early group and Co 0218 in midlate group combine yield, quality and resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses and were identified as mising sugarcane clones for commercial cultivation in peninsular zone of India