RATOONING POTENTIAL OF DIFFERENT SUGARCANE CLONES UNDER SOUTHERN PUNJAB CONDITIONS.

The field investigation entitled "ratooning potential of different sugarcane clones under southern Punjab conditions" was carried out during 2017-18 at Sugarcane Research Station, Khanpur under hot dry agro-climatic conditions of Southern Punjab. The genotypes under investigation were S2008-FD-19, S2008-M-42, S2006-SP-93, S2006-US-321, S2006-US-658, S2008-AUS-133, S2008-AUS-134, S2008-AUS-138, CPF-247 and SPF-234 (Standard). The statistical analysis of the data revealed that new promising sugarcane clone S2008-AUS-133 on account of highest 100-cane weight (105.67 kg), coupled with good stubble sprouting and satisfactory millable cane count, gave maximum stripped cane yield of 104.96 tons ha-1. The top yielder surpassed in quality and as such it fetched maximum sugar yield of 14.33 tons ha-1 followed by SPF-234 (11.76 tons ha-1). The promising sugarcane clone S2008-AUS-133 owing to 11.02 and 21.85 percent more ratoon cane and sugar yield, respectively over the standard variety, is capable of replacing SPF-234. However, its wide scale testing in various agro ecological zones is invited for regional adoptability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]