Evaluating Production and Quality Potential of Selected Newly Developed Promising Sugarcane Genotypes of Pakistan

In Pakistan, sugarcane cultivation is a highly significant economic and social activity that primarily produces cane sugar and generates energy. Varieties of sugarcane are crucial for increasing cane and sugar yields. To ensure the sustainability of cane and sugar production in the country, new sugarcane varieties must be developed and added to the pool of commercially cultivated varieties. To evaluate and select sugarcane varieties with better agro-morphological and biochemical characteristics under Thatta agro-ecological conditions the trial was conducted at experimental field of PARC-National Sugar and Tropical Horticulture Research Institute, at Makli, Thatta during the 2022-23 cropping season. Five sugarcane genotypes i.e., Thatta-2009, Thatta-2026, Thatta-2041, Thatta-2042, and Thatta-2043 developed from local sugarcane fuzz along with standard variety YT-55-Thatta as check were planted in three replications under RCBD experimental layout. All sugarcane genotypes exhibited different behaviors about cane yield and quality components. The sugarcane genotypes Thatta-2041, Thatta-2009, and Thatta-2043 exhibited statistically on par results with significant maximum cane yield of 147.70 131.48 and 127.52 t ha-1, respectively, against the check variety YT-55-Thatta which recorded lower cane yield (113.24 t ha-1). In terms of Commercial Cane Sugar Percentage (CCS%) the sugarcane genotypes Thatta-2026, Thatta-2041, and check variety YT-55-Thatta with statistically equal values displayed significantly greater mean CCS of 13.50, 13.45, and 13.43%, respectively. The lowest mean CCS of 11.61% was statistically equal to Thatta-2043. On account of improved cane yield and sugar content potential. The genotype Thatta-2041 is recommended for further testing concerning yield and quality as well as its stability in different agro-climatic zones of Sindh.