Comparative performance of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) raised through spindle bud culture and conventional methods under different dates of planting

An experiment was conducted during 1995-96 and 1996-97 at Shahjahanpur to s tudy the comparative performance of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) ra ised through spindle bud culture and conventional methods under different d ates of planting. The results showed significantly higher cane yield when o ne-month-old plantlets developed by spindle bud culture method were transpl anted in the field on the scheduled planting dates compared with those tran splanted one month later or the conventional sett planting on the scheduled dates. Irrespective of methods of planting significant decline in cane yie ld was recorded during both the years of experimentation by delaying planti ng from February to May. Commercial cane sugar (%) in cane was not altered significantly due to different methods or dates of planting. Planting by sp indle bud culture at scheduled dates gave significantly higher cane yield t han one month delayed transplanting or sett planting specially in April and May.