Two new high-yielding sugarcane varieties were released recently to a number of sugar mill districts to further boost sugar productivity in the country.

The varieties, named PS 4 (VMC 95-152) and PS 5 (VMC 95-09), were released by the Philippine Sugar Producers to promote the local sugar industry's advancement.

Earlier during the 1997-2002 period, 14 HYVs were released - seven by Philsurin and seven by the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA). As of end 2002, Philsurin had distributed more than 640 million seed canes.

"The massive dispersal of these high-yielding varieties has played a major role in shoring up Philippine sugar production," said Philsurin Executive Director Leon Arceo. Sugar production rose by a hefty 32.6 percent from 1.63 million metric tons in 1999 to 2.35 million metric tons in crop year 2003-2004, the highest in 20 years.

Philsurin selected the two new HYVs from more than 130,000 seedlings produced by the Victorias Milling Corp. (VMC) Variety Improvement Project.

Highly recommended for commercial planting starting CY 2005-2006, both varieties have gone through field evaluation for yield, disease resistance, and adaptability in 17 sites for Advance Yield Testing (AYT) and six sites for the National Cooperative Testing (NCT).

PS 4 is a sweet cane that is resistant to downy mildew and moderately resistant to smut, reported Philsurin chief breeder Aurora Barredo.

With an average yield of 91 tons cane per hectare and 177 LKg/ha, PS 4 has outyielded the widely grown Phil 80-13 and VMC 86-550 varieties in preliminary yield trial sites (PYT) in Busco (Bukidnon) and Balayan (Batangas).

AYT results indicated PS 4 has a higher sugar content than VMC 86-550 in Busco and Tarlac, and Phil 80-13 in Ormoc City (Leyte).

PS 5 is a fast-growing cane that can tolerate drought conditions, and is a good ratooner, said Barredo. Moreover, it has good resistance to smut. It is, however, moderately susceptible to downy mildew and mosaic.

PS 5 yielded an average fo 100 tons cane/ha and 184 LKg/ha in all the trials. Average yield results from PYTs showed PS 5 to be 15 and 11 percent higher in sugar content than VMC 86-550 and Phil 80-13, respectively. AYT results also indicated a higher sugar yield of PS than VMC 86-550.

Both varieties are undergoing multiplication and propagation.

Philsurin recommends PS 4 for double-row planting in lowland to intermediate areas with high to average rainfall. PS 5, on the other hand, is best for upland and dry areas. - Rudy A. Fernandez