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NATIONAL SUGAR CROPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE

PARC Compound, Jungshahi Road, Makli, Thatta, Sindh, Pakistan.

 

OBJECTIVES

• To develop sugarcane varieties with high sugar yield for different agro-ecological zones of the country,

• To develop sugarcane varieties for stress conditions such as pests, drought, salinity, frost and high temperature,

• To develop agronomic requirements for the new varieties developed at the Institute,

• To produce basic seed of new varieties in collaboration with progressive farmers,

• To develop linkage between National and International Institutes for the exchange of scientific information, visits of scientists and training of manpower.
  

Main Disciplines of Research / Sections within Institute

• Sugarcane Breeding,

• Sugarcane Agronomy,

• Sugarcane Pathology,

• Sugarcane Entomology,

• Sugarcane Bio-Technology,

 

Current Project/ Research Activities
Maintenance of sugarcane germplasm and flowering studies (Collection, drying and storage of fuzz)
During 2008-09 total 450 different national and International sugarcane varieties/lines were maintained in sugarcane germplasm at NSCRI, PARC Farm Thatta for flowering studies and fuzz collection. Each sugarcane line was planted in 5-meters long single row at 1-meter row to row distance. Out of 450 sugarcane lines 137 varieties flowered and a total of 12 kg fuzz from the same varieties was collected. Additional 30 kg local fuzz of different sugarcane varieties was also collected from the extreme coastal areas of Thatta viz., Var Ghulamullah, Pir Patho, Ghora Bari, Sakro, Gharho, Mirpur bathoro Kati Bandar and shah Bander etc. The collected fuzz was preserved after having dried. Some quantity of locally collected fuzz from different sugarcane varieties was also sent to different Sugarcane Research Institutes of Pakistan for testing i.e NARC, Islamabad, ARI, Faisalabad, SSRI, Jhang, ARI, TandoJam, Habib Sugar Mills and NIFA, Peshawar for testing.
 

 

Varietals development process
National Sugar Crops Research Institute, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Makli, Thatta has been working on development of new sugarcane varieties through local and exotic fuzz since 1989-90.

Every year large number of seedlings is grown in nursery from local and exotic fuzz. These seedlings are shifted to main field and year wise tested in following several selection stages.
 

Table-1.Stages for sugarcane variety development at NSCRI, Thatta

Selection year	Selection stage
Year 1	Sowing of fuzz/ maintenance of nursery
Year 1	Transplantation and testing in single clone trial
Year 2	First cycle
Year 3	Second cycle
Year 4	Third cycle
Year 5	Fourth cycle
Year 6	Preliminary yield trial
Year 7	Advance varietal trial
Year 8	National Uniform Varietal Yield Trial and Zonal varietal testing trials
Year 9	Agronomic trials and seed increase.

 

Number of clones in each selection stage is reduced by rejecting undesirable clones. The clones, which are genetically advanced in the traits of concern are selected and promoted to next selection stage for further evaluation and selection. In third cycle the variety name is allotted to each clone. The genotypes, which bear the characters of agronomic importance, are further tested in preliminary and advance varietals trials. The cane and sugar yield potential of such selected genotypes is also being tested under different agro-ecological zones. Following selection criteria is being followed for sugarcane variety development at NSCRI, Thatta.

• Variety should have high tonnage and sucrose content.

• Resistance to insect pest and disease

• Resistance to drought, frost and salinity

• Good ratooner

• Erect and self trash

• Non flowering

• No pith

 

Varietals development activities
For 2009-10 crop, 364 indigenous and exotic sugarcane varieties are being maintained in germplasm, 4736 single plants, 469, 84, 59 and 8 clones are being maintained in 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th cycles respectively. In addition to this 7, 6 and 16 sugarcane genotypes are being tested in preliminary yield trial, advance varietals trial and coordinated varietals trial respectively.

 

Table-2. Varietals development at NSCRI, Thatta through Fuzz.

Year	Single plants	First cycle	Second cycle	Third cycle	Fourth cycle
1990	172	--	--	--	--
1191	1836	163	--	--	--
1992	1028	584	83	--	--
1993	600	742	123	27	--
1994	640	210	115	39	10
1995	4000	560	86	40	11
1996	2500	2400	134	41	10
1997	791	--	275	26	9
1998	5007	549	60	72	7
1999	24400	1631	100	23	8
2000	16924	2741	113	37	6
2001	16000	1765	470	51	7
2002	6500	1112	527	132	8
2003	1877	272	113	62	12
2004	687	272	113	62	14
2005	1190	70	87	46	24
2006	1000	176	39	25	8
2007	514	449	70	28	10
2008	4000	302	277	20	10
2009	4736	469	84	59	08

 

Sowing of sugarcane fuzz, raising and maintenance of nursery
During 2008-09, local fuzz of eighty three different sugarcane varieties was sown on coarse textured soil raised beds in autumn and spring seasons . The small plots of 2X2 ft size were prepared on 9-12 inches elevated beds. Fuzz was spread as evenly as possible in the plots and covered with slight layer of sand. In order to keep the soil moist, frequent irrigations with sprinkler were applied. Plant protection measures and light applications of NPK fertilizers were also made as per need. A total of 5130 seedling clones were germinated. Out of which, total 1540 seedling clones were transplanted to the main field in single clone trial for further evaluation and selection during 2009-10 crop season.
 

 

Table-3. Detail of seedling clones obtained from local fuzz of different sugarcane varieties at
NSCRI, Thatta during 2008-09.

Planting Season	Number of crosses sown	Seedlings germinated	Seedlings shifted in plastic bags	Seedlings transplanted to the main field
Autumn	50	3500	2238	710
Spring	33	1630	1160	830
Total	83	5130	33.98	1540

 

Technology Developed/ Achievements
The scientists of National Sugar Crops Research Institute, Thatta over years of research have developed many new sugarcane varieties. The variety Thatta-10 (developed from local fuzz of L-113 commercial sugarcane variety) has been approved by Government of Sindh for commercial cultivation.

 

In addition to this, the proposal of Thatta-300 sugarcane variety (developed from exotic fuzz) has been submitted to Variety Evaluation Committee (VEC) PARC, Islamabad. The proposal for Thatta-127 has also been prepared and will be submitted to VEC in near future.

 

Moreover, seven more promising sugarcane varieties viz. HoTh-2109, HoTh-311, HoTh-318, HoTh-326, HoTh-344, HoTh-348 and HoTh-409 have been got registered with Federal Seed Certification Department, Government of Pakistan.

 

Besides this, some exotic sugarcane varieties from China viz. ROC-01, ROC-16, ROC-20, ROC-22, YT-53, YT-55 and YT-236 are under testing and evaluation at the institute. Out of the same, the varieties having potential of producing maximum cane and sugar yield as well as ability to resist against the insect pest attack and prevailing diseases will be released for commercial cultivation.

 

The institute is also working on the introduction and acclimatization of sugarbeet. Many exotic sugarbeet varieties viz. Aura, Kawe Terma, Posada, KWS-1451, Dorotea and Pamela have been successfully introduced and acclimatized under agro-climatic conditions of lower Sindh.

 

Multi functional Plastic Mulching Technology under Pak China Cooperation Programme on Sugarcane is also under experimentation. The demonstration trials have been conducted on different farmers fields and Sugar Mills farms..

Publications

 

 

List of Scientists

Name / Designation/ Address	Contact #	E-mail Address
Mr. Salahuddin Junejo, P.S.O , Director	Office # 0298-920089 Cell # 03013584919	salah_junejo@yahoo.com
Mr. Babar Raza Kazi, P.S.O	03142805334	babarrazakazi@yahoo.com
Dr. Naimatullah Bughio, P.S.O	03135079346	nbughio@yahoo.com
Mr. Ghulam Sarwar Unar, P.S.O	03008286902	-------
Mr. Muhammad Younis Arain, P.S.O	03012258403	younisarain@hotmail.com
Mr. Naeemullah Gujar, S.O	03023283943	- - -
Mr. Abdul Fatah Soomro, S.O	03013475547	fatah_72@yahoo.com
Mr. Muhammad Aslam Rajput, S.O	03013626238	- - -
Mr. Ghulam Moheyuddin Kaloi, S.O	03013813634	mahiokaloi@yahoo.com
Mr. Ali Hassan Mari, S.O	03032590010	ali_hassanmari@yahoo.com
Mr. Muhammad Chohan, S.O	03322955811	mchohan2002@yahoo.com
Mr. Riaz Noor Panhwar, S.O	03337262092	rnoor_73@yahoo.com
Mr. Ubaidullah Anwar Talpur, S.O	03012039346	uatalpur@hotmail.com
Mr. Din Muhammad Chandio, S.O	03003063041	Dinmohammad_khan@yahoo.com

RESOURCE PERSON

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