Predicting Ratooning Ability of Sugarcane Varieties in Selection Trials

Testing sugarcane varieties for ratooning ability (RA) prerelease happens over fewer ratoon crops than those achieved commercially due to inadequate resources and the need to release varieties quicker. The purpose of this study was to model yield potential and RA of sugarcane varieties. To achieve this, yield (cane yield, TCH; sucrose yield, TSH; stalk weight, STM) and quality (sucrose content, SUC%) data for eight test varieties and a control planted on different soil types (good draining and poor draining), harvesting seasons (early, mid and late), and harvested over six successive crops, were subjected to linear mixed model and regression models. The results indicated varieties had significantly different RA suggesting existence of opportunities to identify varieties with good RA. Soil types and harvesting seasons did not have any significant effect on varieties’ RA for yield traits, but were significant for SUC% with seasons having a higher impact than soils. M1176/77 was identified as the most preferred for both TCH and TSH due to high yield potential and RA. Varieties M1400/86, M695/69 and M1551/80 were suitable for SUC%. A positive relationship between TCH and STM was observed which needs to be explored further to inform breeding efforts.