Vasantdada Sugar Institute, Pune
About the Centre
The Vasantdada Sugar Institute (VSI) is an ISO 9001:2008 organization located in a typical rural set-up at Manjari village on the eastern outskirts of Pune city on the bank of river Mula-Mutha. The institute geographically located at 18.5oN and 73oE at 541 MSL. It is 22 km and 25 km away from Pune railway station and Pune airport respectively. Pune itself is located about 1500 km southwest of Delhi and 160 km southeast of Mumbai. It comes under the tropical zone of India and recognized as a volunteer center in peninsular zone- II by Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), New Delhi under All India Coordinated Research Project on Sugarcane.
The center witnesses hot semi-arid climate bordering with tropical wet and dry with average temperatures ranging between 19 to 33 oC (66 to 91 oF). The city experiences three seasons: summer, monsoon and winter. The typical summer months are from March to June often extending till 15 June, with maximum temperatures sometimes reaching 42 oC (108 oF).The monsoon lasts from June to October and 722 mm (28.43 in) of annual rainfall in the city falls between June and September, and July is the wettest month of the year.
The climate is suitable for sugarcane cultivation and mainly the planting is done during 1st October to 15th December (Preseason), 15th December to 15th February (Suru season) and 15th July-15th August (Adsali crop). The 25-30 % of cane is planted during Preseason, 20-25 % during Suru season and 15-20 % in Adsali season and on an average 40 % is ratoon crop.
The best time to visit the Pune city is from September to February and it’s a Historical city having many more places to visit like Shri Dagadusheth Ganpati temple, Shaniwar wada, Agakhan palace, Shinde Chhatri, Raja Dinkar Kelkar museum, Parvati hill in city and Sinhagad and Shivneri fort near by the city.
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Achievements
Crop Improvement
- CoC 671 (Q 63 x Co 775): The early maturing, high yielding and high sugared variety was tested by this section and released for the state in the year 1995. Due to release of this variety the sugar recovery of the state was increased by about 0.60 units giving a great scope to sugar industry to give good cane price to cane growers.
- Co 85004 (Co 6304 x Co 740): The early maturing high sugared variety was tested and pre-released for the state in the year 1993.
- Co 8014 (Co 740 x Co 6304): The early maturing, high yielding variety was jointly released in the year 1996 with MPKV, Rahuri.
- Co 86032 (Co 62198 x CoC 671):The midlate maturing, high yielding and high sugared variety proposal was contributed by generated the database for the release with MPKV,Rahuri.
- Co 94012 (Somaclone of CoC 671):The midlate maturing, high yielding and high sugared variety proposal was contributed by generated the database for the release with MPKV, Rahuri in the year 2006.
- CoVSI 9805 [IVT No. CoVSI 04131] (Co 8371 PC): The midlate maturing, high yielding and high sugared variety was developed by this section and released for the state in the year 1998. This variety has given 21.82 % higher cane yield and 25.18 % higher sugar yield than the check variety Co 86032. It has good ratoon ability, erect growing habit, less susceptible to internode borer and resistant to smut disease. The variety is released for commercial cultivation in Adsali and Pre-season for Maharashtra State (except high rainfall zone).
- VSI 434 [IVT No. VSI 08121] (Somaclone of CoC 671): The early maturing, high sugared variety developed by the Tissue Culture section of this institute was tested by this section. The database for the release was generated by the Plant Breeding section and released the variety for the state in the year 2012.
- CoVSI 03102 [IVT No. CoVSI 08123] (80 R 41 GC): The midlate maturing, high yielding and high sugared genotype was developed by this section and pre-released for the state in the year 2012. This variety has given 21.21 % higher cane yield and 27.26 % higher sugar yield than the variety Co 86032. It has good ratoon ability, erect growing habit, less susceptible to internode borer and resistant to smut disease. The variety is pre-released for commercial cultivation in Pre-season and Suru season for sugarcane growing areas of high rainfall zone of Maharashtra.
- VSI 08005 [IVT No. VSI 12121] (Co 0310 x Co 86011): The midlate maturing, high yielding and high sugared genotype developed at the Sugarcane Breeding Center, Amboli was released for Maharashtra State in the year 2018. It has a high yielding, high sugared with good ratoonability characteristics and tolerant to drought and salinity.
Crop Production
- Different herbicides were tried for the control of binding weeds in sugarcane Application of Metribuzine @ 1.25 Kg a.i./ha as pre-emergence spray after planting followed by post-emergence spray of 2,4-D @ 1.0 Kg a.i./ha at 75 days after planting is recommended for management of binding weeds in Suru sugarcane.
- The single eye bud planting recorded significantly maximum cane yield CCS yield and B:C ratio (3.33) compared to three eye bud setts followed by two eye bud setts The cane and CCS yield and quality parameters were at higher side due to 75% seed rate and dipping of setts in fungicide (0.1%) + gibralic acid.
- The genotype CoVSI 03102 recorded significantly higher cane, CCS yields & B:C ratio than the other genotypes under study. However it was on par with the check variety Co 86032.Application 125% of recommended fertilizer dose of NPK to suru season Sugarcane produced significantly higher cane yield
- Mechanized farming at 150 cm row spacing was found superior in terms of sugarcane yield ,sugar yield ,net monitory returns and B: C ratio (1: 2.94). Mechanized farming is now adopted by 60% farmers due to shortage of labours
- The effect of sub-soiling with different spacing and number of harrowing on growth and yield of sugarcane was studied in deep black ill drained soils of Vasantdada farm. The practice of cross subsoiling at 1m distance and two harrowing before plantation of sugarcane increased cane yield of 31.20 t ha-1 over recommended dose of fertilizer.
- The effect of differential response of sugarcane crop to different nutrients on yield and quality of preseasonal sugarcane was studied in medium black soil. Application of RDF (400:170:170) along with sulphur @ 60 kg ha-1 and ZnSO4 @ 20 kg ha-1 increased 9.31% cane yield whereas in ratoon crop application of RDF with S+Zn+Fe combination gave maximum cane yield of 118.48 t ha-1 which was significant over RDF (104.92 t ha-1). Farmers are adopting these recommendations for sugarcane cultivation
Crop Protection
a) Pathology-
- Plant Pathology Section of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Division was established in June, 1982 and working with mission statement of ‘To improve the economic status of sugarcane growers through increasing yield and quality of sugarcane by application of most innovative and cost effective strategy based on latest technology as regards to sugarcane disease management in sugarcane agriculture, Human Resource Development, Extension services and Development’. Section is having well equipped pathological laboratory and museum occupying the total area of 4000 sq. feet. The section has state of the art infrastructure for R & D and the disease diagnostic services for cane growers and industry. This section participates in All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on sugarcane in India.
- Seventeen new diseases viz. pokkah boeng, pineapple, leaf spot, leaf blight, wilt, leaf scald, knife cut, chlorotic streak, stem galls, sheath rot, twisted top, top rot, root rot, spindle rot, damping off of seedlings, sett rot and Sclerophthora disease (downy mildew) were recorded for the first time in Maharashtra on sugarcane. Sett rot and Sclerophthora disease (downy mildew) were recorded for the first time in India; while spindle rot, a new bacterial disease has been identified for the first time on sugarcane in the world.
- Red rot incidence on CoC671 and Co86032 noticed in central Maharashtra in 2009-2010 crop season was successfully managed by adopting integrated control measures plot by plot viz., roguing of affected cane stools, drenching of fungicide containing carbendazim, application of Trichoderma viridae, rejection of disease affected seed plots and burning of affected stools along with the canes /stubbles.
- Wilt disease caused by Fusarium sacchari was recorded in severe form on CoC671 in association with root borer and was successfully controlled in central Maharashtra during 2009-10 crop seasons by adopting integrated approach viz., roguing of affected cane stools, drenching of fungicide containing carbendazim, application of Trichoderma viridae – a biocontrol agent, application of insecticide i.e. quinolphos in granular form , rejection of disease affected seed plots and burning of affected stools along with the canes.
- This section has recommended 3 sprays of propineb (antracol) @ 0.25 % along with sticker for an interval of 15 days for the management of rust disease of sugarcane caused by Puccinia melanociphala .
- During the survey (2015) , a unknown insect (stage-larva) was observed feeding on spores (Urediniospores) of Puccinia melanocephala on leaves of sugarcane variety CoM0265,CoC 671,Co86032, CoVSI 9805 in Pune, Ahmadnagar,Kolhapur and Satara district.The insect feeder as Mycodiplosis coimbatorensis was identified by Zoological Survey of India, Pune
 Pokkah boeng disease |
 Knife cut disease |
 Brown spot disease |
b) Entomology-
- Soil application of Chlorantronoliprole 0.4 GR @ 22.5 Kg/ha at the time of planting and /or 60 DAP or spraying of Chlornatraniliprole 18.5 SC @ 375 ml/ha at 30and/or 60 DAP found effective for management of sugarcane early shoot borer.
- Installation of sex pheromone traps @27/ha coinciding with the emergence of moth is recommended for the management of early shoot borer, top borer, internode borer and stalk borer.
- During 2009-10 to 2013-14 Early shoot borer, internode borer, root borer, white fly, scale insect and white grub were noticed as the major pests of sugarcane in Maharashtra State. Sugarcane woolly aphid incidence was scanty in some pockets and below ETL level due to establishment of predators, Dipha aphidivora, Micromus igorotus and Eupeodus confractor.
- During 2009-10 to 2013-14 the maximum incidence of early shoot borer noticed in month of May. The maximum incidence of internode borer was noticed in the month of December. The incidence of mealy bug was noticed maximum in the month of July and August.
- Three years (2002-2005) results indicated that the use of seed from seed nursery, selection of healthy setts, sett treatment with 50 EC Malathion (0.15 %), use of pheromone traps @ 12 /ha and change of lures thrice at 15 days interval, release of Trichogramma chilonis, an egg parasite of borers @ 5 lakh parasitoids / ha. in two installments and cultural control (small earthing up at 45 days after planting) etc. consists IPM package for control of Chilo infuscatellus.
- During 2002-03 VSI, Scientist have reported this new pest in Maharashtra on sugarcane and indentified as white woolly sugarcane aphid Ceratovacuna lanigera.The severe attack was found on 1.5 lakh ha.VSI Supplied 1 lakh (2002-03), 10 lakh (2003-04) and 2 lakh (2004-05) predators larvae/cocoons to 59, 66 and 15 factories respectively in Maharashtra due to which Dhipha aphidivora and Micromus igoratus predators established in the nature and sugarcane woolly aphid damage was checked. Due to implementation of IPM programme by VSI with the help of co operative sugar factory control the pest satisfactory as SWA infestation restricted to 0.62, 0.49 and 0.48 lack ha area. Now sugarcane woolly aphid infestation is under ETL level
- Mass multiplication method of Trichogrmma chilonis an egg parasite was standardized and during 1995-2016 VSI has supplied 41080 Tricho cards for the control of sugarcane borer on 3286.4 ha.