Micropropagation

Transplanting of Plantlets in field


The following methodology was developed for getting quality planting material from micropropagated sugarcane plantlets

• The plantlets well established and hardened in plastic bags are supplied in cardboard boxes. Each box contains 100 plantlets.
• These plantlets are treated with Vasant Urja for induced abiotic and biotic stress tolerance and improved growth.
• A well drained field should be selected and prepared as usual for raising seed nursery. Furrows should beopened at four feet distance. The recommended doses of manures and basal dose of fertilizers need tobe applied while preparing the field. The applied fertilizers should be well mixed in the soil.
• It is advisable to plant the plantlets in the field next day of supply. This helps in increasing survival underfield condition. If next day planting is not possible due to unavoidable circumstances, then removeplantlets from the boxes and keep them in bright sunlight and water them profusely once in a day.
• It is necessary to withhold watering the plantlets a day before planting in the field so that the soil in the plastic bag becomes hard and compact. This prevents damaging the root system during the removal of plastic bag. The damaged root system increases mortality in the field.
• Under more saturated atmosphere it is necessary to withhold watering of the plantlets for more than two to three days so that the soil in the plastic bag becomes hard and compact
• Keep the plastic bags containing plantlets in the field on ridges.
• Dig the pits of the size of the plastic bag at two feet distance in the center of the furrow.
• Remove the plastic bag carefully by taking a vertical cut with a sharp blade without disturbing the soil ball.
• The other field operations and subsequent care should be taken as per the recommended practice for the conventional seed nursery.
• Apply 15 Kgs. (4%) of granular Cartap hydrochloride or 25 kg Phipronil per hectare in the soil after fifteen days of transplantation and irrigate the field. This helps in preventing early shoot borer infestation.
• While applying the subsequent doses of fertilizers care should be taken not to injure the transplanted plantlets. The soil should be dug along the furrow away from the base of the plantlets with the help of pickaxe, fertilizer applied and subsequently covered with soil and irrigation is given immediately. Spot application of fertilizers or ring method of application of fertilizers need strictly be avoided.
• If necessary main shoot may be removed 35-40 days after transplanting.
• The major earthing up needs to be done at 90-100 days after transplanting.
• The major earthing up needs to be done at 90-100 days after transplanting


Advantages of using planting material from tissue cultured plantlets


• The planting material obtained from tissue culture plantlets is genetically pure.
• The planting material is disease and pest free. Therefore there is no need of giving Hot Water Treatment or Moist Hot Air Treatment to the planting material for making seed disease free..
• Multiplication of a sugarcane variety is faster.
• 2 to 2 1/2 times more planting material can be obtained from an unit area as compared to the conventionally planted seed plot.
• Bud germination in the field is 98-100 %. All buds germinate within a period of ten days after planting.
• Increase in sugarcane productivity to the tune of 30-35% and that in sugar recovery to the tune of 15%.
• Helpful in implementing season and varietal planting and harvesting programme in the area of operation of a sugar factory.
• Seed material obtained from Tissue Cultured plantlets is highly suitable for raising single eye bud settlings due to quicker and higher germination ability.It saves time, seed and cost

Precautions for using seed material obtained from micro propagated sugarcane plantlets


• While planting Certified Seed Nursery with the help of planting material obtained from tissue cultured plantlets care should be taken to use only nine to ten month old canes.
• The seed cane should be cut in to two eye budded setts with the help of sharp cutting knife and these need to be planted at a distance of nine to twelve inches.
• Plating of Certified seed nursery from foundation seed nursery raised from tissue cultured plantlets sett treatment with vasant urja solution (5ml/liter) should be done for 30 minutes.
• Recommended doses of fertilizers need to be applied as per the schedule.
• There is profuse tillering in the foundation and Certified seed plot planted with tissue culture planting material,. It is necessary to perform small earthing up operation after one and half months of planting and major earthing up after three to three and half months of planting to restrict unwanted tillering and to obtain good quality planting material.