Sugar accumulation pattern in tropical and subtropical sugarcane varieties of different maturity groups

Abstract

In sugarcane, sugar accumulation is not uniform throughout the crop season and varieties show variation in the pattern of accumulation.The present study was conducted to understand the pattern of sugar accumulation in different genotypes identified as subtropical and tropical varieties with different maturity period. Hand refractometer Brix data of 28 varieties were recorded at 30 days interval from six months after planting to 12 months after planting. It was observed that the varieties classified as early and mid-late did not display any definite pattern of sugar accumulation and varieties within the groups differed in the accumulation pattern. Similarly, the subtropical varieties had not shown any difference in the Brix build up when compared with that of tropical varieties. There was a dip in sugar accumulation during December/January in most of the genotypes, which could be due to the difference in the minimum and maximum temperatures and the vegetative growth triggered due to rainfall at the location of study.The sugar accumulation pattern determined using the Brix build up at specific locations is to be considered while classifying commercial sugarcane varieties as early, midlate or late maturing clones for that location