A breeder's perspective on the tiller dynamics in sugarcane

Sugarcane is a vegetatively propagated crop grown for sugar. A sugarcane 'clump' comprises of several cane stalks arising from subsurface sprouting of the underground buds in the form of tillers which develop into millable canes, providing the sink for sucrose accumulation. Thus, the number of millable stalks and the individual stalk weight constitute the yield in sugarcane. The conventional sugarcane agriculture, wherein two or three-budded stalk pieces called 'setts' are used for planting, does not exercise strict control on the intra-row spacing and this often leads to sub- or supra-optimal tiller population. If it is suboptimal, it leads to poor yield. When in excess, it leads to competition and results in poor tiller survival. Although tillering ability is a genetically governed trait, a breeder tends to select the types which produce a near-optimal number of millable canes. What is overlooked in the process is the substantial tiller mortality. In our opinion, both these practices (breeding and agronomy) do not do justice to the very nature of the sugarcane plant and are rather wasteful. With this perspective, sugarcane planting and breeding are revisited to drive home the point that better selection of sugarcane variability and efficient planting system be adopted for reducing the cost of seed and increasing the profitability. Fortunately, it is being demonstrated at a few places in the country that better sugarcane agronomy is the route to enhanced productivity and juice quality. Further, the gains extend to ratoon crops as well, resulting in an overall win-win situation for the farmer and the factory.