Co 89003  :::  An early maturing high quality sugarcane clone

Courtesy: Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbature



Prelude

 
Co 89003 is progeny of the cross Co 7314 x Co 775. After initial stages of selection at sugarcane breeding institute, Coimbatore, this clone ( 86-207) was sent to sugarcane breeding institute, regional center, Karnal for location testing under pre-zonal varietal trial. On the basis of HR brix readings at 8th, 10th & 12th months the clone was classified as an early cane at multiplication  stage. The clone was evaluated under per-zonal varietal trail at the center. On the basis of its superior performance, in comparison to cost 64, this clone was giving Co number, i.e. Co 89003.

Salient Characteristics

 

It has medium thick greenish yellow cane and medium long lanceolate ligular process on one side. Sheath splitting is common. Bud groove is prominent and is extended to 3/4th or splits and pith. the fibre %  is about 11%. The jaggery is of golden yellow colour of A1-grade. It is a soft cane and hence, it is suitable for chewing purpose. 

Performance of Co 89003 at the research farm

 

The performance of co 89003 comparison with coj 64 has been judged over the year(1990-97) in7 trials conducted during autumn (4trial) and  spring season (3trial). Co 89003 showed clear improvement over coj 64 with respect to all the three important trial. The improvement in CCS yield over Coj 64  varied from 20.3 to 58.4%(mean=31.49%) in autumn season and 22.2 to 54.4%(mean=41.68%) in spring season. The mean improvement in sucrose% in juice over Coj 64 was 3.56% in autumn season and 5.56% in spring season.

Season Variety cane yield (t/ha) Sucrose% Sugar yield (t/ha)
Autumn
Co 89003 90.48 16.60 10.28
Coj 64 68.81 16.03 7.40
Percent improvement 31.49 3.56 38.92
Spring Co 89003

69.55

 19.56 9.50
Coj 64 49.09 18.53 6.29
Percent improvement 41.68 35.56 51.03

 

Performance of Co 89003 in farmer's fields

 

Performance of Co 89003 is better in Rohtak (Haryana) and most of places in Punjab. The Information received from different sugar mills in Punjab indicated that the cane yield of this variety varied from 75 to 88 t/ha. This clones has given the maximum recovery of sugar in comparison to all early clones especially during Oct and Nov. Most of the sugar mills in Haryana are conducting the adaptability trials in their areas to test the suitability of this clone.

Disease and insect-pest resistance

 

Co 89003 is moderately resistant to red rot disease whereas it is susceptible to wilt disease. We have observed that wilt infection in Co 89003 was associated with root borer or termite infestation. Therefore, wilt disease could be checked to a certain extent by taking prophylactic measures for root borer. Based on the experiments conducted at Sugarcane Breeding  Institute, Regional Center, Karnal, following integrated approach is recommended for cultivation of Co 89003 :

 

  1. Use of healthy seed material.

  2. Seed treatment with Emisan(0.2%) or Bavistin(0.5%) or  Bavistin(0.5%) +Boric acid(0.2%) for          10 minutes  

  3. Soil application of any effective insecticide(Endosalfan @ 2 L/acre or Chlorpyriphos @ 2 L/acre or Confidor @ 500ml/acre) against termites at the time of planting.

  4. Application of furadan 3G @ 13kg/acre or Ekalux EC 25 @ 2 L/acre during last week of June.

  5. Application of Ekalux EC 25 @ 2 L/acre during 1st week of august.

  6. Occurrence of drought during May-June increases the incidence of root borer and termites, which in turn increases the wilt infestation. Hence, crop should be irrigated regularly.

  7. Intercropping of onion, garlic and coriander with sugarcane reduced the wilt incidence.

  8. Paddy-sugarcane rotation reduced the inoculum of wilt pathogen in soil.

 

Recommendation    

 

Co 89003 has been released in Punjab state since 1997. Co 89003would prove as a high quality early maturing clone in upland areas with assured irrigation facilities. This could be a suitable substitute of Coj 64,as this clone is better in yield, quality and ratoon performance with resistance to red rot disease.