%0 Journal Article
%T A Promising Early Maturing Sugarcane Variety from the East African Sugar Development Project (EASDP)
%A Jonathan Mutonyi
%A Michael Jones Khaemba
%J Open Access Library Journal
%V 9
%N 6
%P 1-7
%@ 2333-9721
%D 2022
%I Open Access Library
%R 10.4236/oalib.1108640
%X Variety FR 95-2345 imported from Visacane, Cirad germplasm collection in Montpellier, France through the East African Sugar Development Project was evaluated along with five locally bred sugarcane varieties KEN 98-530, KEN 98-533, KEN 00-3811, KEN 82-472 and KEN 83-737 from 2017-2019 at Mumias in Western Kenya. The varieties were selected for earliness in maturity. Variety KEN 83-737 was included as a local standard and the plant crop was harvested at the age of 17 months. There were significant differences (p ¡Ü 0.05) among the varieties in all sampled parameters. The highest yielding variety was KEN 83-737 at 135.6 t/ha followed by KEN 98-530 at 111.5 t/ha and FR 95-2345 at 95.6 t/ha. The lowest yield was recorded on variety KEN 82-472 at 37.9 t/ha. No common diseases and pests were observed on the crop throughout the experiments. From the result, one locally bred variety KEN 98-530 and FR 95-2345 imported from Cirad were promising, having achieved 82.7% and 70.5% yield compared with the local standard. There was no significant difference (p < 0.05) in cane quality from the Brix readings, however, variety FR 95-2345 recorded the highest top:bottom ratio of 0.77, a desirable indicator for earliness in maturity. Testing of the two varieties for ratooning ability is recommended. Promotion and expansion of the area under fast-maturing varieties will address the raw material shortage that has negatively affected the sugar industry in Kenya.
%K Early Maturing Variety
%K Germplasm
%K Saccharum officinarum
%K Sugarcane
%K Brix
%U http://www.oalib.com/paper/6772303