Sugarcane bud chips: A promising seed material

• DOI: 10.1007/s12355-010-0013-9
• Publication Date: 2010-08-25T17:54:05Z
• Authors: Radha Jain; S. Solomon; A. K. Shrivastava; A. Chandra
• Keywords: Sprouting; Cane; Stalk; Cutting; Bud

Sugarcane is normally propagated by stalk cuttings consisting of 2 to 3 bud sett. In conventional system, about 6–8 tons seed cane /ha is used as planting material. Establishing the sugarcane crop using bud chips in place of setts could save about 80% by weight of the stalk material, however this technology has not been scaled up at commercial levels due to poor survival of bud chips under field conditions. Present study is aimed at improving sprouting and establishment of bud chip seed stocks of sugarcane by pre-planting soaking in growth promoting chemicals. Treated bud chips recorded higher bud sprouting, root number, fresh weight of shoot and roots and plant vigor index. Studies have shown that bud chip could be one of the most viable and economical planting material in reducing the cost of sugarcane production.