Exploration and collection of sugarcane germplasm in Southeast Sulawesi and its importance

Abstract

One of the major constraints in improving sugarcane productivity to achievenational self-sufficiency in sugar has been the low crop productivity and sucrose content. To alleviate the problem the use of high yielding variety with high sucrose content is imperative. To develop high-yielding sugarcane varieties germplasm with sufficient genetic variability is needed. At present, sugarcane germplasm collection at ISFCRI is very limited and hence needs to be broadened through exploration and collection mission to the center of diversity of the crop and its development areas. Based on the literature studies, information gathered from the local estate government and funding availability collection were focused in Kendari municipality, Muna district, and Buton district. The exploration mission successfully collected 66 sugarcane germplasm, consisting of 59 clones derived from local seed, 3 clones derived from seed originated from outside Southeast Sulawesi Province (South Sulawesi, Moluccas, and West Nusa Tenggara Provinces), and 4 wild Saccharum clones (Saccharum spp). Morphological variabilities were seen in terms of stem color, stem wax, and eye-bud shape. The importance of the collected germplasm is discussed.