Adaptation behavior of sugarcane varieties against high temperature stress in subtropical India

High temperature stress has emerged as a widely occurring problem in sugarcane growing tracts, in general and in subtropical India, in particular, affecting growth and development of sugarcane in early pheno-phases of establishment and shoot formation. Seventy one sugarcane varieties from Peninsular, North-west, North-central and North-eastern sugarcane zones of the country were screened for their tolerance to high temperature stress. The tolerance has been assessed on the basis of drying of leaf-tips and margins (leaf injury) and rolling of leaves. Some varieties have the potential to escape high temperature stress and some other varieties were able to tolerate high temperature induced stress. Some of the varieties suffered from excessive leaf injury and leaf rolling, indicating thereby their inability to tolerate high temperature stress. The leaf rolling during formative phase of the crop showed qualitative impact on the tonnage of the crop at harvest. These varieties may further be explored for their use in breeding programmes.