Flowering suppression by ethephon in sugarcane and its effect on yield and juice quality

Field experiments were carried out for two seasons to study the efficacy of ethephon on the control of flowering in profusely flowering commercial varieties of sugarcane in peninsular India. The reduction in flowering ranged from 50 to 100% when ethephon was applied as mist spray at pre-induction period. Varieties also differed in their response to ethrel application and cane yields resulting from such flower inhibition. The cane yield and sucrose per cent increased by upto 10% and 6%, respectively, at 0.25 kg a.i. ha⁻¹ of ethephon. Variety Co 6304 responded better both in terms of flower control as well as increase in yield and quality than variety Co 1148.