Sugarcane germplasm expedition of southeastern Nigeria
Abstract
Sugarcane germplasm expedition was undertaken to the southeastern states of Nigeria in order to identify the available local sugarcane in this region. Fifty-three accessions were identified and collected. Phyto-geographical diversity in cane accessions was observed across the rainforest to the coastal swamp. Most of the clones differ in major morphological traits such as stalk height, girth and internodes colouration. Unlike the accessions which has been reported from the northern part of Nigeria, most of the accessions from the south-east are hard rinded and more resistant to smut and stem borer which are the most economically important disease and pest of sugarcane in Nigeria. They therefore have a great potential for breeding improved sugarcane varieties for sugar industries in Nigeria. These diverse and important breeding values confer on them a great potential as parent materials for use in the development of improved cane varieties for local growers and sugar estates.[Niger Agric. J. 33 (2002): 143-145]
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