Sugarcane clones tolerant to post harvest deterioration under tropical conditions

Abstract

Promising sugarcane clones were studied for their tolerance to post harvest deterioration at different months of crop age (11, 12 and 13 months). The study was carried out up to 84 h after harvest. The sucrose of juice, reducing sugars, pH and cane weight were determined at different intervals of harvest. Sugarcane clones viz., 98 A 168, 97 A 85, 2000 A 213 and 2000 A 226 recorded higher per cent juice sucrose at all months of crop age compared to all other clones tested. 98 A 168 maintained higher juice sucrose up to 13th months of crop age with less reduction in sucrose. Reducing sugars were found to be higher at 84 h after harvest at 11th, 12th and 13th months of crop age in harvested stored cane. Reducing sugars increased while pH decrease progressively in all the clones with the time lag between harvest to crushing. Increase in reducing sugars was comparatively low in 2000 A 213 and 2000 A 226 compared to other clones. Sugarcane clones 99 A 5 (2.74 %), 98 A 168 (5.55 %), 2000 A 213 (4.34 %) and 2000 A 226 (5.58 %) recorded less reduction in cane weight up to 84 hours after harvest. Loss in cane weight was high at 13th month of the crop age.