Modern sugarcane varieties are usually interspecific hybrids between S.officinarum and S.spontanum with limited infusion of S.spontaneum and S.robustum. Past progress in improving sugarcane performance largely centered on introgression with S.spontaneum.
Sugarcane Naming System:
Most common system of naming sugarcane is use of call sign (usually correspond to one to three letters), a two digit-year designation and a selection number. Another system is release number consisting of a call sign followed by series number (Co 419). Call signs used with sugarcane varieties developed in India in different breeding programmes are given in Table 18.2. Varieties recommended for different states are given in Table 18.3.
Seasons:
In India, duration of sugarcane ranges from 10 to 18 months. A 12 month crop is most common in the country. A 18 to 20 month crop called adsali is planted in northern Maharashtra and parts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
In the entire subtropical north, 12 months spring planted crop is termed as main season, in Maharashtra suru planting and in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat as eksali. Planting and harvesting months for sugarcane in different states of the country are given in Table 18.4.
In general, planting season coincides with relatively warmer season and harvesting with cool and dry season with less humidity and lower minimum temperature, except in southeast coastal Tamil Nadu where the northeast monsoon overlaps with cane maturity phase.
Main season crop and eksali crop of sugarcane is planted throughout the country in February- March. Adsali crop is planted in July-August in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Sugarcane crop is harvested in India from November to April except in Madhya Pradesh where harvesting starts in October. However, harvesting of eksali crop of sugarcane starts in July, August and September in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Orissa, respectively.