Sugarcane micropropagation techniqu

Sugarcane micropropagation technique when properly used, results in production of large number of
disease free and true to type sugarcane plantlets within a shorter period of time. The technology has
been successfully incorporated in three tier system of seed multiplication in sugarcane. It is advised to
change the planting material of a sugarcane variety every fourth year so that the production potential
of the variety is maintained. Tissue culture sugarcane plantlets are used as breeders’ seed in three
tier system of seed multiplication. Much progress in adoption of sugarcane micropropagation
technology has been made by Maharashtra state. Vasantdada Sugar Institute, Pune established largest
facility having a capacity to produce two million micropropagated seedlings per year and distributes
more than a million hardened seedlings every year for seed production. The Institute has also
developed complete package of practices for producing commercial seed through the three-tier
nursery program using tissue culture seedlings. The institute has drawn up programs to cover the
entire sugarcane growing area in Maharashtra with tissue culture seedlings in four year cycles for
which the sugar industry and sugarcane farmers are showing considerable enthusiasm. With one
hectare of Breeders’ Seed Nursery it is possible to cover 1000 ha, 500 ha, and 3000 ha under
commercial sugarcane crop by conventional, recommended and tissue culture system of seed
multiplication respectively when three eye budded setts are used for seed multiplication. On the other
hand if two eye budded setts are used for seed multiplication the area covered under these is 3375 ha,
1800 ha and 10125 ha respectively.