Background:
True seed harvested from sugarcane flowers commonly known as fluff or fuzz’ is the basic material for selection and development of new improved varieties The natural climatic conditions around Coimbatore (110N Latitude and 770 Longitude) were found to be most ideal for profuse flowering and seed setting without any cost on artificial equipment.:
Ever since its inception in 1912, sustained breeding programmes helped for evolving better commercial clones for the entire country through Coimbatore canes which extended throughout the globe for commercial or breeding use. The strong breedin work of the institute has resulted in steady increase of sugarcane area, production, productivity and sugar recovery in the country and offers a great opportunity for commercialization of sugarcane seed fluff. A revival of demand for proven Coimbatore canes as well as botanical seed i.e. fluff/fuzz has arisen from various sugarcane growing countries especially African countries. The exchange of true seed offers means to obtain‘g‘enes of choice. Sharing the true seed (fluff/ fuzz) from crosses done between parents of choice at lCAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore with countries in dire need of sugarcane fluff opens new avenues in sugarcane research abroad as well as revenue generation. As envisaged by global bodies like FAO/IPGRI(1993) and sugarcane breeding stations in various countries either fluff or defuzzed seed can become a marketable input. The movement of seed might provide a safer, more extensive and rapid alternative to vegetative material. Our well—organized breeding programmes would open new vistas for marketing of true seed. Seed Technology Laboratory, ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore has got the proven techniques and technologies for handling sugarcane true seed viz. seed processing, testing for germination, seed storage, packing and transport. Defuzzing is practiced to improve the handling of fluff in sowing. Disinfection becomes easier. Through reduction of weight and principally volume the storage and transport becomes easier.1000- seed weight ranges from 0.5 to 2.5 g (Rajendra Prasad and Tripathi, 1999).:
Technology Details:
The golden opportunity for generating income/resources from marketing our true seed globally through our well—organized breeding programmes at lCAR-SBI,Coimbatore would open new vistas. The resurgence of plea for proven Coimbatore canes as well as botanical seed i.e. fluff/fuzz from many sugarcane growing countries especially from Africa can be fulfilled utilizing our well—knit breeding programmes and tailor—made seed technological solutions. Now lCAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore has got the proven techniques and technologies for handling sugarcane true seed viz. seed processing, testing for germination, seed storage as well as seed marketing through transport. As envisaged by global bodies like FAO/IBGRI and sugarcane breeding stations in various countries either fluff or defuzzed seed can become a marketable input giving impetus to sugarcane breeding programmes in many countries where huge demand for sugarcane true seed exists for initiating variety development plans.:
Seed Technology Laboratory, ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore has got the proven techniques and technologies for handling sugarcane true seed viz. seed processing, testing for germination, seed storage, packing and transport. Rajendra Prasad (1991) standardized procedure for seed germination test for fluff as well as defuzzed seed. Seed storage facility at minus -20°C at Seed Technology Laboratory could maintain good initial germinability fluff/defuzzed seed for more than five years.(Rajendra Prasad,1998, SBI Annual Report 2002,2004).:
At lCAR-SBI, a Mechanicaldefuzzing machine run by 0.5 HP motor has been fabricated by Balasundaram and Rajendra Prasad (1991).Defuzzed seed gave better germination (SBI annual Report, 1993,199; Rajendra Prasad et al.,1998,Rajendra Prasad and Balasundaram,2004).:
PHOTOS & DETAILS:
A comprehended protocol for Sugarcane true seed can be as follows. i. Planting of the desired parents of crosses in field for flowering following the standard practices. ii. Crossing for 7—10 days with pollen of the selected male parents on female arrows which are properly bagged to avoid pollen contamination. iii. The seed fluff harvested from ripened sugarcane arrows has to be cleaned and dried well to bring the seed moisture content to less than 10%. iv. Testing the seed germination percent of either seed fluff or defuzzed seed in seed germinator at 25—300C and 90% relative humidity.The standard seed germination of fluff or defuzzed seed shall be above 50 %. v. The process of defuzzing can be done in SBI defuzzing machines as per the standardized procedures. vi. A standard fungicide treatment with captan 0.1% or any other suitable fungicide has to be applied before packing the seed fluff/defuzzed seed. vii. Papercoated Polythene laminated Aluminium Foil pouches of ideal size has to be used for packing seed fluff or defuzzed seed of desirable quantity say 5 g,10g,50 g or 100g. On an average One gram of seed fluff can have 1500 to 2000 seeds. And One gram of defuzzed seed consists of 3000-4000 seed. The price tag has to be worked out for One gram of seed. it can be per one gram of seed.