Studies carried out to investigate the duration effect of simulated freeze at—2.5±0.2°C on bud damage of sugarcane varieties, revealed that in all the varieties, bud mortality increased with an increase in duration of freeze exposure from 3 hours to 6 hours, which was higher in bottom followed by middle than in top portion, especially in varieties Co 1158 and Co J 70. Continuous freeze exposure of 6 hr. was deterimental to the buds than the same duration of freeze in two equal spells. In different durations of freeze exposures, buds of stripped setts suffered higher mortality than unstripped ones thereby indicating that leaf sheath plays a protective role against freeze injury. Under low temperature stress, varieties Co J 64 and Co 1148, however, suffered less as compared to rest of the varieties.
