Morphological and Agronomic Traits of Sugarcane (Saccharum spp. Hybrid) Germplasm in the Climate of the Northeast

Abstract

Genetic basis of diversity is essential for development of sugarcane breeding program. Morphological and agronomic traits must be investigated and collected as a database for further study. The experiment was conducted during 2011-2012 at Khon Kaen Field Crops Research Center (Tha-phra site) using 489 accessions of exotic sugarcane germplasm. The experimental design was Augmented Randomized Complete Block Design. Sugarcane var. Khon Kaen 3, Khon Kaen 80, and K88-92 were used as standard checks. Only 443 accessions expressed the certain features for data recording. Overall, the cane yield ranged from 0.2 to 23.8 kg/m2 (average 7.2 kg/m2) with sugar yield between .03 and 3.02 kg/m2 (average 0.83 kg/m2). Only 16 accessions gave cane and sugar yields over 15.6 g/m2 and 1.91 kg/m2, respectively. Although, millable stalk yield ranged from 1.1 to 30.9 stalks/m2 (average .7 talks/m2), only ten accessions had stalk number between 16.4 to 30.9 stalks/m2. Commercial cane ugar CCS) was found from 9.0 to 16.6% (average 12.0%) but 20 accessions had CCS content greater than 15%. Stalk diameter of the samples was from 1.3 to 3.3 cm (average 2.3 cm) whilst the diameter over 3.0 cm was observed in only 8 accessions. For lowering, 25 accessions flowered between late October 2011 and January 2012. There were very high ariations in blooming periods. Morphological characteristics of most varieties could be described as the erect stool growth habit with curved internode shape. Other characteristics were different and diverse. The morphological and agronomic data of collected accessions were recorded in for further study.