Sugarcane Seed production

      For the production of sugarcane seed, sugarcane breeding results in production of true sugarcane seed "Fluff" which requires fast multiplication for field testing. Tissue culture technique may help in fast multiplication of cause and may provide following benefits.

1. It avails healthy planting materials vigorous crops absolutely free from diseases.
2. Relatively lesser true seed is needed to produce large quantity of canes.
3. Systemic pathogens can be eliminated.
4. Testing of clones and their subsequent time for release will be decreased.
5. Breeding stock can easily be preserved for long time.

     Once the canes are multiplied from few clones developed from true sugarcane seeds, they are tested for following aspects-

(i) Adoptability under different agroclimatic conditions.

(ii) Desirable organic characters.

(iii) Yield potential.

(iv) Disease and insect resistance.

(v) Ratooning ability.

       The identified clones should have better germinability, uniformity of stock freedom from insect- pest and diseases. The clones having all the required characters should be multiplied for different categories of seed viz, Breeder, Foundation, Registered and Certified. Nearly all the categories required following steps for production of quality seed canes.

1. Selection of Seed Canes: Best quality seed should be selected preferably from different clumps. The canes must be healthy.
2. Seed Treatment: The selected canes should be cut into three budded setts which are given heat treatment for killing the disease pathogens responsible for spreading seed born diseases. Now these setts are treated with 0.1%  Bavistin and there after the setts are dipped in 0.1% Malathion solution.
3. Planting of Setts: The setts should be planted in rows at 90 cm spacing between rows. After every 4 rows 1.5 meter wide (Inspection) for proper monitoring.
4. Inspection: Monthly inspection should be done and rogue/off type, if any, should uprooted and destroyed. The disease clumps must also be destroyed soon after appearance of disease symptoms.

Seed Standard of Sugarcane

Viability of Buds- Not less than 80 %
Freedom from diseases (Minimum Permissible Limit)

 

S.No.	Disease	Percent
1.	Smut	0.0
2.	Red Rot	0.0
3.	Wilt	0.0
4.	Mosaic	Only mild strains are permitted
5.	Grassy Stunt Diseaseand Ratoon Stunting Disease	0.0
6.	Moisture % End-internodes-	Minimum 60%
7.	Any other internode	Minimum 66%

Characteristics of Bud: Green, Swollen, Well protected without any spot.