Sugarcane Varieties Identification Guide Sugarcane Variety Selection is a long process.

It may be anywhere from 10 to 12 years before a variety that arrives in the country as a tiny seed appears as a commercial clone among those that have been in production for a long time. The selection and introduction of new varieties is done for several reasons among which are: A. B. C. D. To increase yields of cane per unit area, To improve the juice quality and amount of sugar produced by unit area, To respond to a disease or pest problem that affects those varieties in production, To introduce varieties with resistance or better tolerance to new diseases that are not yet present but may soon spread into the area, E. To suit differences in growing conditions, F. To diversify the varietal make up to strengthen the production system. As more varieties become available, variety identification becomes very important for everyone involved in the production of sugarcane. There are many different botanical descriptors used to identify a variety. In this guide we are using only the simplest and easiest that can be used for the identification of our varieties. The illustration below can be useful to identify the location of the descriptors on the sugarcane plant. 1. Stalk wax All varieties contain stalk wax, this may be light (if stalk colour is highly visible), moderate (stalk colour is fairly visible) and extensive (stalk colour is not visible). 2. Leaf sheath wax None, Light and extensive. 3. Leaf sheath hair None, Light (felt but not seen), moderate (seen but not in large quantities) and extensive (seen and is in large quantities). 4. Dewlap Colour Same colour as leaf, darker than colour of leaf, lighter than colour of leaf. 5. Stalk colour The stalks colour represents internodes from the stalks freshly cut (leaves and wax that have just been removed from the internode) because the combined sun and wax can have an impact on the true stalk colour. Some varieties that express a red or purple colour do so because of the exposure of the stalk to the sun. 6. Auricle The appendages of the leaf sheath located on the opposite side of the ligule. These may be short pointed, medium pointed, long pointed, short rounded medium rounded, long rounded or a tuft of hairs. 7. Bud Shape, Size, Habit and Bud Groove.

CP721312
CP varieties originate at Canal Point, the USDA Sugarcane Field Station in Florida. CP721312 and CP701133 were introduced into the BSI Variety Selection Programme in the early 1990s. Altho ugh both varieties have been grown at BSI since 1998, only CP721312 was extended into commercial production. CP721312 is product of cross CP65 -357 X CP56 - 63. This variety is an early maturing variety and will flower heavily in November. It is suitable for harvesting in the first term of the crop (December to February) and therefore should only be planted in areas that are easily accessible during that time. It is smut resistant but has shown some susceptibility to rust. CP721312 is grows well on all soil types of Orange Walk and Corozal and performs well in well drained fields. Tons cane /Ha 68.54 Tons Cane/Tons Sugar 7.66 Tons Sugar/Ha 8.79 Fibre (%) 14.00

Stalks are of medium thickness (1) or perhaps a bit more than an inch. Internodes are cylindrical in a zigzag configuration.

CP721312 is a heavy tillering variety. It tends to lean heavily as it approaches maturity. Perhaps it may best be described as sprawly.

The stalk colour is visible through the wax and so The leaf sheath also has a light wax which allows the stalk wax is light. Note that it is heavier at the the lighter colour and light purple spots to be node which is normally where it is more abundant. visible. Leaf sheath is moderately pubescent and its margin are narrow necrotic.

The auricle tends to be very short and rounded on one side with only a tuft of hair on the other.

The dewlaps or joint triangles are the darker, thicker wedged shaped areas where the lamina and leaf sheath connect. In CP721312 the dewlap is narrow

The bud is small, round with prominent wings. It is flat and there is no bud groove (a depression on the stalk that that extends from under the bud upward along the internode).

BBZ99129
BBZ99129 was recently introduced as a pre-commercial variety. This means that is under evaluation under commercial growing conditions. In acre plots strip trial established on Louiseville clays (Libertad) and harvested at 14 months, BBZ99129 produced 43 tons per acre. In small plot trials the results were more modest, but age was generally 12 months. This variety does not flower and neither smut nor rust has been observed. Cjbrix 21.50 CjPol 18.97 Purity (%) 88.21 Tcts 8.09 Fibre(%) 14.63 TCA 32.79 TSA 4.05

BBZ99129 is easily identified from its canopy. Its leaves are wide and short so that these do not curve enough to make them lax and therefore maintain a more erect top habit. It is self thrashing but old leaves dont fall off completely, keeping the stalk hidden.

The stalks have a bright green colour with a purplish hue on the younger internodes

The stalk wax is light allowing the stalk colour to come through albeit a bit lighter.

The exposed area of the leaf sheath exhibits a purplish hue, visible under light sheath wax. Sheath hair is visible but very light.

The buds are medium size, rounded with wings, Auricles are medium pointed; about 1 cm in length. which are purple on the margin. There is no The dewlap is olive green tending toward narrow. bud groove. Sheath wax is light.

BBZ99641
BBZ99641, along with BBZ99129 was recently introduced as a pre-commercial variety. Similarly, in acre plots strip trial established on Louiseville clays (Libertad) and harvested at 14 months, BBZ99641 produced 47 tons per acre. In small plot trials the results were more modest, but age was generally 12 months. This variety flowers and neither smut nor rust has been observed. Cjbrix 22.11 CjPol 19.38 Purity (%) 87.67 Tcts 7.94 Fibre(%) 17.01 TCA 27.51 TSA 3.49

Extensive wax on stalk leaves only internodes colour is highly visible.

9.5 feet tall canes of 10 months old BBZ99641. The leaves are narrow and erect, though older ones tend to curve. I is self thrashing exposing stalks very early in its developemnt. I presents growth cracks in older internodes, but these are superficial.

Extensive stalk wax hides purple colour of young internode.

The colour turns a bronze brown in older internodes

The bud is medium flat with a tuft of hair at the end. It is winged and has the purple colour present in stalk and leaf sheath.

Auricles are very pronounced ( 2 long) and pointed. The dewlap is very narrow.

Pubescence is extensive on leaf sheath.

Intenodes are slightly oval across and have a very slight zigzag arrangement.