Revolutionizing Sugarcane Farming: Genetic Advances Boost Crop Quality and Yield
A study was conducted in Sudan to investigate the variability in sugarcane traits like yield and quality. Different sugarcane clones were tested over two seasons, and traits like cane yield, sugar content, and fiber percentage were measured. The researchers found that there was a wide range of variation in traits like number of millable cane and stalk height. Traits like juice purity showed high heritability and genetic advance, especially in the ratoon crop. This means that improving certain traits, like cane yield, through selection is possible, while others, like fiber percentage, are more challenging to change. Overall, the study highlights the potential for improving sugarcane traits through selective breeding.