Sanesh Ramburan

• South African Sugarcane Research Institute

The South African sugar industry develops commercial sugarcane cultivars across multiple testing sites, crop-years and replications. The extent of such parameters has not been well quantified for optimum breeding and resource allocation. The objective of this study was to identify the optimum number of testing sites, crop-years and replications nee...

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) yields in the South African sugar industry are affected largely by genotype by environment (G × E) interactions. The objectives of this study were to investigate the nature and magnitude of G × E interactions of selected sugarcane genotypes based on regional evaluation trials and to identify mega-environments to inform fu...

The “Canegro” sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) model uses cultivar trait coefficients to simulate crop growth. The primary objective of this study was to quantify the cultivar trait values for some tillering and stalk traits for a diverse range of cultivars. An additional objective was to determine the stability and heritability of these traits across en...

Tissue-cultured (TC) sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) plants have been shown to possess an altered phenotype (high tillering and thin stalks) relative to conventionally propagated sugarcane from setts (Conv) in the first vegetative propagation stage (Stage 1). It is currently unclear if these effects are genotype specific, and whether they would persist...

To account for genotype x environment (G x E) interactions, sugarcane varieties are tested in multi-environment trials (METs) across multiple crop-years and seasons (early vs. late) under fully irrigated conditions in Swaziland. This study aimed to quantify the main sources of variation relevant to the MET network, identify mega-environments, evalu...

Commercial sugarcane propagation is vegetative, using either whole sticks or stem sections known as setts for plantation establishment. Although simple and cost-effective, such multiplication takes a year to generate planting material and does not eliminate disease-causing viruses. In vitro micropropagation is an alternative, and the South African...

Inconsistent agronomic responses of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) to residue mulching are due to complex interactions between soil, climatic, management and genetic factors. Information on mulch responses of diverse cultivars in contrasting environments, over multiple ratoon crops, in different cropping seasons (winter vs summer) are limited. This stu...

The perceived negative cultivar responses to mulching has limited the adoption of this practice in the South African sugarcane industry. This study was aimed at evaluating cane yield and quality responses and population dynamics of popular cultivars to mulching in the rainfed region of South Africa. A four-replicate field trial was established usin...

The widespread frost experienced in 2014 highlighted the severity of this major production constraint for inland areas. The objectives of this study were to (i) summarise recent variety performance and post frost deterioration from a series of trials, (ii) identify the best management practices and (iii) highlight future research thrusts to improve...

Frost in low-lying areas in the midlands region of South Africa limits sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) yields and information on breeding strategies, cultivar choice, and time of harvest in frost-prone environments is lacking. This study aimed to (i) evaluate the yield and ratooning ability of test cultivars compared with commercial standards, (ii) iden...

The South African sugar industry has experienced decades of sustainable sugar production due in part to continuous variety changes, yet the historic variety trends have not been reviewed. The objectives of this study were to (i) review the historic trends in variety distribution and discuss the impact of variety changes on industry sustainability,...

Studies of ratoon decline (RD) in sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) are primarily limited to investigations of cultivar ratooning ability (RA) and selection for this trait. The relative effects of cultivar, environment, and management on RD are rarely considered. This study (i) explored the relative effects of cultivar, environment, and management practic...

Factors influencing ratoon yield decline (RYD) are often unclear and difficult to unravel. The objectives of this study were (i) to explore the relative contributions of variety, environment and management to RYD, and (ii) to evaluate a method of detecting statistical differences in RYD between treatments. Four sets of trials, comprising six irriga...

The causes of genotype × environment (G × E) interactions in sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) are unclear. The objectives of this study were to (i) investigate the G × E interactions and site similarity in two selection programs in South Africa, (ii) identify factors responsible for G × E interactions, and (iii) illustrate the integrated use of crop mode...

Test sites selected for plant breeding programs are often not ideal and need to be constantly evaluated for their appropriateness. Commercial sugarcane genotypes are selected for the Midlands region of South Africa based on evaluation at six testing sites. The similarities between these sites in terms of genotype performance have never been evaluat...

Post-release variety evaluation (PRVE) of sugarcane in South Africa entails the continuous trial-based assessment of variety performance under varied environmental and management conditions. The system of evaluation is embodied within the variety evaluation project (VEP), which, after more than 40 years of existence, requires a review. The objectiv...

The adaptability of new sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) cultivars to time of harvest (TOH), and reasons for yield variability between harvest times are currently unclear in South Africa. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the adaptability of commercial cultivars to TOH and to identify environmental factors responsible for differential cultiva...

The objective of this study was to develop a basic variety selection decision support system (DSS) based on industry legalities, varietal characteristics and structured genotype-by-environment (G harvest age and variety yes/no’ spreadsheets, which were housed within a relational database. A web interface linked to the database allows users to speci...

The objective of this study was to compare historical experimental and commercial yield data for sugarcane in order to determine the general level of disparity and assess the possibility of deriving a correction factor to adjust trial yields to realistic commercial levels. Over the 29-year comparison period, trial yields (fresh stalk weight) of sug...

The objective of this study was to identify commercial and recently released varieties adapted to different cutting cycles along the coastal region of the South African sugarcane industry, and to evaluate the effects of Eldana (Eldana saccharina Walker) damage on productivity. The suitability of biplot analysis for interpretation of variety x cutti...

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the plant growth regulators (PGR's) chlormequat, ethephon and their combination on plant height, lodging, grain yield and yield components of ‘Puma’ barley with differing amounts of N (120, 150 & 180 kg N ha−1). The PGR treatments and a water control were applied at three times of applicati...

Plant growth regulators (PGR's) that reduce lodging have not been evaluated on commercial wheat cultivars under local irrigated conditions. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of PGR's on agronomic and quality parameters of three wheat cultivars under irrigation in the field. A control (water) and two PGR's, chlormequat chloride a...