Uttar Pradesh releases new sugarcane varieties to combat red rot disease
The state sugarcane administration introduced two new disease-resistant sugarcane varieties, CoSe 17451 and CoSh 19231, to combat red rot and boost yields. CoSh 19231, approved statewide, and CoSe 17451, for Eastern UP, offer higher sucrose content and productivity. The move aims to counter low sugar recovery and red rot’s impact on the widely grown Co 0238 variety.
The state sugarcane administration released two new disease-resistant sugarcane varieties aimed at combating red rot, commonly referred to as sugarcane cancer. These new varieties not only offer resistance to red rot but also deliver higher yields compared to earlier varieties, particularly the Co 0238 variety, which has been severely impacted by the disease across major sugarcane-producing areas.
According to Sugarcane Commissioner Prabhu N Singh, the newly developed varieties—CoSe 17451 and CoSh 19231—were created through advanced breeding techniques. CoSe 17451 was bred at the GS Sugarcane Breeding and Research Institute in Seorahi using the polycross method, while CoSh 19231 was developed by the UP Council of Sugarcane Research in Shahjahanpur through the inter-crossing of the widely grown CoSe 95422 variety.
CoSh 19231 is approved for whole state, whereas CoSe 17451 is introduced for Eastern Uttar Pradesh.
The new varieties have shown a remarkable yield of approximately 920 quintals per hectare. They also boast a sugar juice content of 17.8% and sucrose levels at 13.2%, both significantly higher than previous varieties. CoSh 19231 has been named “Lahidi” in honor of Kakori case martyr Rajendra Nath Lahidi, while CoSe 17451 was named “Krishna” to honor Dr. Krishna Nand, the sugarcane scientist who developed the variety before his untimely death in a road accident.
After consultations with experts and officials, CoSh 19231 has been designated as an early variety for the entire state, while CoSe 17451 will be used as an early variety for eastern UP. Additionally, CoLk 16470 has been approved as a mid-late ripening variety for eastern UP. In response to limited popularity and cultivation, three previous varieties—Co 12029, CoSh 99229, and CoSh 96268—have been removed from the approved list.
The introduction of these disease-resistant varieties comes at a crucial time, as sugar mills in UP have been struggling with low sugar recovery and production, particularly in the Terai region, due to the widespread red rot infection in the Co 0238 variety
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Source : Chinimandi
