Field Performance of Micropropagated Breeder and Foundation Seed Nurseries of Sugarcane Variety CoS 97264

Breeder seed nursery was raised using the micropropagated plantlets of sugarcane variety CoS 97264 and evaluated in the field for agomorphological and quality traits by comparing with an equivalent crop grown through conventional sett planting method. During the next year, foundation seed nursery was established by planting the breeder seed obtained from previous micropropagated crops and evaluated. The results showed that the average number of tillers/clump and number of millable cane/clump were significantly higher in tissue culture raised breeder seed plants as compared to the conventionally raised donor plants. The cane diameter and cane yield were significantly lower in micropropagated breeder seed crop than the conventional one. These two traits however improved during next generation in foundation seed nursery indicating an improvement. The varietal identification traits like leaf angle, spines on leaves, auricles, bud characteristics (shape and size of buds, bud groove), colour of cane stalks etc recorded in both breeder and foundation seed nurseries were found similar to their respective donor crops suggesting the uniformity of plants. The quality traits were marginally improved in micropropagated seed nurseries.