Mauro Alexandre Xavier, Samira Domingues Carlin Cavallari, Marcos Guimarães de Andrade Landell, Luciana Rossini Pinto and Maria Natália Guindalini Melloni
Agronomic Institute of Campinas (IAC) – Sugarcane Center, P.O. Box 206 – CEP 14001-970, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil; mauroalexandrexavier@gmail.com
Brix and stalk numbers associated with sugarcane productivity (Brix and number of stalks) were determined under different soil and climate conditions in Brazil using material from the early stages of the selection program of the Agronomic Institute of Campinas – IAC. In order to select clones for specific locations, 68 different crosses were tested in Assis, Jaú and Ribeirão Preto in the state of São Paulo (SP) and in Goianésia (Jalles Machado Mill and Otávio Lages Mill) in the state of Goiás (GO). Data on brix and number of stalks of the seedlings were collected, and the average of these characteristics was determined for each location and for each state. The average values of brix (17.66 Bx) and number of stalks (23.11 stalks/stool) were higher in Goiás, with the highest brix of 18.79 Bx in the region of Otávio Lages Mill in Goianésia – GO and the lowest of 16.68 Bx in Jalles Machado Mill in Goianésia – GO. The highest average number of stalks was 23.12 stalks/stool was in Jalles Machado Mill – GO, while the lowest, 17.26 stalks/stool, was in Jaú – SP. The state of São Paulo is the largest sugarcane producer in Brazil, as its soil and climate are favorable for sugarcane productivity. However, our study shows that high-performance crosses can be selected in other regions of Brazil, and more targeted selection for each region of Brazil should deliver useful cultivars. Further studies are necessary to identify favorable soil and climate conditions for better selection based on different characteristics of interest for new varieties.