PERFORMANCE OF PRE-RELEASE SUGARCANE CLONES UNDER LATE PLANTED RAINFED CONDITIONS

摘要

Late planting of sugarcane (May - June) purely under rainfed conditions with the onset of monsoon is common in North Coastal Zone of Andhra Pradesh. Cane yields obtained under rainfed situations range from 25 - 30 t/ha as the crop suffers from moisture stress both at formative and maturity phases. Identification of clones with high cane yield, juice sucrose and tolerance to moisture stress is the priority area in sugarcane research. Evaluation of pre-release clones purely under rainfed conditions over three years (2002 to 2004) resulted in identification of superior clones with high yield and high sucrose. Among the clones 98 A 168 recorded higher cane yield andjuice sucrose and was found superior to Co 6907. The high cane yielding clones also registered higher root weight at 90 DAP, total dry matter per plant and NMC at harvest. The clone is also tolerant to moisture stress and red rot.