Genetic variation in sugarcane for ratooning after harvester damage in wetsoil

Genetic variation in ratoon growth and cane yield after mechanical harvesti ng under wet conditions was examined among 26 sugarcane clones of diverse g enetic background, including materials closely related to Saccharum spontan eum and some commercial cultivars. The clones were evaluated under a contro l treatment (harvesting under dry conditions and allowing the cane to ratoo n without further disturbance), and a traffic treatment (spray irrigation a nd then driving heavy field equipment over the cane stubble immediately aft er harvesting). Averaged over all clones, the traffic treatment had a large adverse effect on early growth and final ratoon yield. There was significa nt genotype x treatment interaction for early growth and canopy development , but not for final cane yield. There was also a high genetic correlation b etween genetic performance under the different treatments, indicating that selection for ratooning after dry harvesting conditions would be also effec tive for improving performance after wet harvesting conditions. A sugarcane breeding program specifically targeting better ratoon performance under we t conditions would be difficult to justify.