BSES sugarcane breeding program in the Burdekin

The BSES sugarcane breeding and selection program in the Burdekin has undergone major changes during the past decade. This was necessary to improve the program's effectiveness, as most commercial varieties grown in the Burdekin were initially selected in other cane growing districts. The selection methods previously used were ineffective in identifying superior clones under lodged conditions typical of the Burdekin. The introduction of mobile weighing units facilitated research into alternative selection methods, and the selection program has since been progressively modified to incorporate research findings. A simple but effective selection program has been developed. Family selection is now used routinely in original seedling populations. Family or clonal plots in all stages of selection are weighed to estimate cane yield. More clones are tested under commercial conditions on local farms much earlier in the program. Cultivar development time has been greatly reduced and varieties are now rcleased to industry within 10 years from germination of original seed. The availability of objective progeny and clonal performance data allow for more accurate identification of superior crosses and parents. The generation interval for breeding purposes has also been reduced and modern statistical methods are used for choosing parents. There are now good prospects for the release of locally bred and selected seedlings.