Vol.

5 (3) : 185 - 187 (2003)

SHORT COMMUNICATION

Effect of Flowering on Juice Quality and Fibre

Content in Sugarcane
P.N. Gururaja Rao and K. Naresh Kumar
Plant Physiology, Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore - 641 007, T.N., India

A study w a s u n d e r t a k e n with three profuse flowering varieties Co 740, Co 7219 and CoC 671 and three non-
flowering varieties Co 62175, Co 6907 and Co 997 to investigate the effect of flowering on cane weight, sucrose
per cent juice, fibre per cent "and pithiness till three months after flowering. The single cane weight reduced
slightly with age after flowering, while the sucrose per cent juice w a s not affected until after 3 months of
flowering. T h e fibre content increased only marginally in the f l o w e r i n g varieties by the third month after
flowering. However, no definite trend in the fibre content w a s o b s e r v e d in the n o n - f l o w e r i n g varieties. No
significant variation in the pith content a m o n g the varieties was noticed until three months after flowering.

KEYWORDS : Flowering, Fibre, Pithiness, Yield, Juice quality, sugarcane

Flowering in sugarcane is a genetically determined
trait and i n f l u e n c e d by a n u m b e r of plant and
environmental factors like photoperiod, temperature,
m o i s t u r e and nutrition ( M o o r e and Nuss, 1987).
Flowering is known to affect the productivity of cane
and sugar. Although flowering in sugarcane is essential
for breeding, uncontrolled flowering in commercial
fields poses a serious problem for sugarcane farmers
and millers with a considerable loss of cane and sugar
yield.
photoperiodic treatment. While Long (1976) observed
a steep rise in fibre content of varieties with age, l~ao
(1977) and Nuss (1989) observed no difference in fibre
content between flowered and non-flowered canes.
The objective of this study was to determine the
effect of flowering on cane weight, sucrose per cent
juice, fibre content and pithiness up to three months
after flowering in three profuse flowering and three
non-flowering varieties.

The reduction in cane tonnage due to flowering
varies with the percentage of flowering and the age of
the crop at flowering. Miah and Sarkar (1981) reported
that the fresh weight of n o n - f l o w e r e d stalks was
superior over the flowered ones, while Singh (1980)
reported that the weight of flowered canes after 35 to
45 days of inflorescence emergence was superior to
the non-flowered canes in the varieties Co 1158 and
Co 740. Flowering reduced the sucrose content in cane
especially when there is a high percentage of flowering.
Hes (1951) reported that flowering reduced the purity
of the juice, if the crop was harvested after four or
more months. Sucrose per cent juice was significantly
higher in the flowered stalks and in the later season in
the non-flowered stalks (Sudama Singh, 1980; Miah
and Sarkar, 1981). Rao (1982) reported no difference
in available sucrose content between flowered and non-
flowered canes by s u p p r e s s i n g flowering through
Author for C o r r e s p o n d e n c e : P.N. G u r u r a j a Rao
e-mail : pngrao@yahoo.com
A field study was conducted with c o m m e r c i a l
hybrids of s u g a r c a n e (Saccharum officinarum L)
comprising of late-flowering varieties Co 740, Co 7219,
CoC 671 and non-flowering varieties Co 62175, Co
997, Co 6907 in clay soil (Vertisol), planted during
March, 1999 at Sugarcane Breeding Institute farm,
Coimbatore, replicated thrice. The floral initiation at
Coimbatore (1 I~ occurs during the last week of July
to second week of August (photoperiod, 12.5 hrs) and
the emergence during November (Singh, 1975).
Samples were drawn at 1, 2 and 3 months after
flowering coinciding with D e c e m b e r , January and
February, respectively. On each sampling occasion, four
mature canes were randomly selected in each replication
and stripped free of leaves and sheath. In the case of
flowering varieties, only flowered stalks were sampled.
Cane weight, sucrose % juice, fibre and pith content
were recorded. The fresh weight of four canes was
recorded and from this the single cane weight w a s
calculated and expressed in kg.

185
 The juice was extracted and filtered through a muslin Until three months after flowering, the juice sucrose
cloth to remove all the extraneous materials. The filtered percentage was not affected (Table 1). The flowering
juice was taken for estimation of sucrose % juice. The varieties showed a higher sucrose content than the non-
pol value was estimated by p o l a r i m e t r y in lead flowering varieties at all the stages. Varieties CoC 671
subacetate clarified solution and the sucrose per cent and Co 997 recorded higher juice sucrose per cent
juice was o b t a i n e d from the pol values and the values in the flowering and non-flowering group,
uncorrected brix value by referring Schmitz's table respectively. The flowering varieties had recorded a
(Meade and Chen, 1977). higher sucrose content till the third month after flower
emergence. These findings were in agreement with the
Fibre per cent cane was estimated by Rapipol
extraction method as per Meade and Chen (1977). A
Table - 1 : Sucrose per cent juice as influenced by flowering
sample of 250g of chopped cane bits was disintegrated until three months
in two litres of water using a Rapipol extractor for 3-
4 minutes. After decantation, the contents were washed Group Variety Date of Sampling
twice with water and filtered. The residue was
December January February
transferred to a pre-weighed cloth bag and then dried
at 110 ~ C for 5-6 hrs in an oven until constant dry Non-Flowering Co 740 16.72 18.36 18.53
weight was obtained. The fibre per cent cane was
Co7219 16.08 17.00 20.31
calculated and expressed as the percentage of insoluble
residue on the basis of fresh cane weight. CoC 671 19.61 21.85 22.09

Using a mesh (100'), the dried fibre material was Mean 17.47 19.07 20.31
sieved and the pith was separated and its weight was
Non-Flowering Co 62175 13.13 16.81 18.22
recorded. The pith content was expressed as the per
cent of total fibre. All the data were statistically Co 997 14.33 18.72 20.43
analysed using the standard statistical methods of Panse
Co 6907 14.97 18.45 19.82
and Sukhatme (1985).
Mean 14.14 18.00 19.49
In this study, the flowers emerged during the second
week of November, 1999 and the flowering intensity Group SE 0.27 0.38 0.23
varied from 40 to 60 per cent among the flowering CD 0.85 NS 0.74
varieties. The results showed that the single cane weight Variety SE 0.33 0.47 0.29
decreased with age in flowering varieties (Fig. 1). The CD 1.04 1.47 0.90
per cent decrease in single cane weight was 7.39 in the Group x Variety SE 0.47 0.66 0.27
variety CoC 671 among the flowering group. At the CD 1.47 2.09 1.28
3rd month after flowering, the non-flowered stalks had
(CD at P = 0.05)
higher single cane weight than the flowered stalks.
Singh (1980) reported similar results by comparing both
reports of Singh (1980) that the sucrose per cent juice
the early flowering variety Co 1158 and the late
was significantly higher in flowered stalks even after
flowering variety Co 740. Miah and Sarkar (1981) noted
35-45 days of flower emergence than the non-flowered
that the fresh weight of non-flowered stalks was
stalks of the varieties studied. Whereas, Miah and
superior over the flowered ones in the variety Co 1158
Sarkar (1981) noticed the same trend only up to 60
beyond 60 days after flowering. In this study, none of
days. The results o b t a i n e d were c o n t r a r y to the
the varieties had shown a significant decline in the
observations of Rao (1977) that the available sucrose
fresh cane weight until three months and a tendency to
in the non-flowered canes of the plant crop was
form side shoots after flowering.
significantly higher than that of the flowered canes.

Flowering had no effect on fibre content, though it

Fig. 1 : Single cane weight at different stages in flowering and
non-flowering sugarcane varieties
increased in the third month after flowering in the
flowering group (Table 2). However, no definite trend
was found in the non -flowering group. The varieties
Co 740 and Co 997 had recorded higher fibre content
at all the sampling stages in flowering and non-
flowering group, respectively. The n o n - f l o w e r i n g
varieties had lesser fibre content (11.57%) than the
flowering varieties (12.37%). This was contrary to the
report of Miah and Sarkar (1981) that beyond 60 days
after flowering the fibre per cent cane declined with
the increase in age. However, the present findings were
in agreement with the observations of Long (1976) and
Rao (1977).

186
Table - 2 : Effect of f l o w e r i n g o n fibre per cent cane at one, f l o w e r i n g stages. V a r i e t i e s d i f f e r e d s i g n i f i c a n t l y a m o n g
two and three m o n t h s after f l o w e r i n g themselves with variety Co 740 having significantly
Group Variety Date of S a m p l i n g l o w e r pith p e r c e n t o f total f i b r e t h a n the rest. T h e
p i t h i n e s s o f the f l o w e r i n g v a r i e t i e s r a n g e d o n l y f r o m
December January February 26 to 42 p e r c e n t o f total f i b r e by the t h i r d m o n t h after
Co 740 13.08 t2.33 14.22 flowering. Rao (1977) observed extensive pithiness of
Flowering
f l o w e r e d c a n e s as c o m p a r e d to v e g e t a t i v e stalks.
Co7219 11.23 9.34 11.32
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
CoC 671 10.62 12.00 11.57
T h e a u t h o r s a r e t h a n k f u l to D r . N . B a l a s u n d a r a m ,
Mean 11.64 11.22 12.37 D i r e c t o r , S u g a r c a n e B r e e d i n g I n s t i t u t e , C o i m b a t o r e for
Non-Flowering Co 62175 11.07 9.83 9.53 p e r m i t t i n g to u n d e r t a k e t h e s t u d i e s a n d to Dr. B.
S u n d a r a , H e a d o f D i v i s i o n , C r o p P r o d u c t i o n f o r the
Co 997 12.11 13.17 13.44 f a c i l i t i e s and c o n s t a n t e n c o u r a g e m e n t .
Co 6907 12.09 12.43 11.75
REFERENCES
Mean 11.76 11.81 11.57 lies, J.W. (1951). The Effect of flowering on the yield of cane.
Sugar J., 14(4): 10-17.
Group SE 0.33 0.26 0.24
CD NS NS 0.75 Long, A.C. (1976). A large varietal difference in cane deterioration
due to flowering. Proceedings South African Sugar Technologists
Variety SE 0.38 0.32 0.29
CD NS NS NS Assoc., 78-81.

Group x Variety SE 0.53 0.46 0.41 Meade, G.P. and C b e n J.P. (1977). Cane Sugar Handbook. John
CD 1.68 1.44 1.30 Wiley and Sons, Inc. New York.
Miah, M.A.S. and Sarkar, M.A.A. (1981). The effect of flowering
(CD at P = 0.05) on the quality of sugarcane. Bangladesh Journal of Sugarcane,
3(24) : 25-28.
M o o r e , P.li. a n d Nuss. K.J. (1987). Flowering and flower
synchronisation. In: Heinz D.J. (Ed.). Sugarcane Improvement
through Breeding. Elsevier, Amsterdam. 273-311.
Nuss, K.J. (1989). Effects of flowering on sucrose yield in five
sugarcane varieties. Proceedings of the South African Sugar
Technologists Assoc., 181-185.
Panse, V.G. and S u k h a t m e P.V. (1985). Statistical Methods for
Agricultural Workers. 4th edition. Indian Council of Agricultural
Research, New Delhi.
Rao, P.S. (1977). Effect of flowering on yield and quality of
sugarcane. Exp. Agric., 13 : 381-387.
Rao, P.S. (1982). The flowering and yield relationships in two
Fig. 2 : Pith per cent of total fibre at various post-flowering stages sugarcane varieties. Proc. West Indies sugarcane Technologists.,
in sugarcane varieties 213-215.
Singh, Sudama (1975). Floral initiation in sugarcane hybrids under
T h e pith p e r c e n t o f total f i b r e at 1, 2 and 3 m o n t h s different months of planting at Coimbatore (Latitude 11 ~ N), ISSCT
a f t e r f l o w e r i n g was s h o w n in F i g . 2. N o s i g n i f i c a n t Sugarcane Breeders' Newsletter, 36 : 67-70.
c h a n g e in the p r o p o r t i o n o f pith to the total fibre in the Singh, Sudama (1980). Studies on flowering in sugarcane. Ph, D.
f l o w e r i n g v a r i e t i e s w a s n o t i c e d at d i f f e r e n t p o s t - Thesis, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.

187