Breeding and selection for earliness in sugar cane
| MSI99P0053 | |
| Mamet, L. D. | |
| University of Cambridge, GB | |
| Breeding and selection for earliness in sugar cane | |
| Thesis, MPhil | |
| Thesis | |
| 1990 | |
| 158 p. | |
| En | |
| En | |
| Studies were initiated on the variation and inheritance of "earliness" characters in sugar cane (Saccharum sp.). Various juice quality estimators were measured in 384 unselected F1 progenies at three harvest dates (April, July and October). These genotypes represented 12 families from biparental crosses between varieties with various ripening patterns (3 early X early, 3 early X late, 3 late X early, 3 late X late). Phenotypic correlation and regression studies indicated that field Brix was a sufficiently accurate estimator of sucrose content even in cane which was unripe. No consistent, significant, negative correlation between sucrose content and estimated cane yield was found indicating that it should be possible to breed both for early high sucrose and early high cane yield. The families were shown to have significantly different mean values for all the quality characters (eg. pol per cent cane) measured and significant family X harvest interactions were observed for all characters except Brix per cent dry matter. The superior families at the April and July harvests always had at least one early parent. Mass selection simulations indicated that the choice of sampling date is crucial as early varieties were discarded when selection was carried out both in July and in October. It may therefore be necessary to select for earliness in the pre-harvest period. The need for genetic studies on earliness and the economic impact of increased sucrose content at the beginning of the Mauritian harvesting season are discussed. | |
| SUGARCANE BREEDING SELECTION EARLINESS | |
| MAURITIUS | |
| Cane breeding and genetics | |
| Breeding for earliness | |
| 1991-11-20 | |
| En | |
| Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute | |
| PB |