ISSN: 2320-5407 Int. J. Adv. Res. 4(10), 397-406 397 Journal Homepage: - www.journalijar.com Article DOI: 10.21474/IJAR01/1805 DOI URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/1805 RESEARCH ARTICLE REGENERATION OF SOMACLONES FROM SUGARCANE CULTIVAR CO-740 & COMPARISON OF THEIR AGRONOMIC CHARACTERS WITH LOCAL VARIETIES. * Dr. Vijaykumar Biradar 1 , Dr. M. S. Patil 2 , Dr. S.B.Mashetty 3 , Pooja Lachuriye 4 and Pooja Shrigiri 4 . 1. HOD & Director, PG Studies & Research Centre in Biotechnology, Karnatak College, Bidar, Karnataka, India 2. HOD of Botany, Karnatak College, Bidar, Karnataka, India. 3. HOD of Chemistry, Karnatak College, Bidar, Karnataka, India. 4. Assistant Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Karnatak College, Bidar, Karnataka, India …………………………………………………………………………………………………….... Manuscript Info Abstract ……………………. ……………………………………………………………… Manuscript History Received: 12 August 2016 Final Accepted: 22 September 2016 Published: October 2016 Key words:- Sugarcane cultivars, Somaclone, Tissue culture, Callus, Sucrose, Growth parameters. The present study was carried out to select better performing somaclones generated from the tissue culture of local popular existing sugarcane cultivar Co-740. Three somaclones were selected & compared their growth & yield parameters with local cultivars (Co- 740, Co-419 & CoC-671). These parameters studied at regular one month interval from 30 th day–360 th day. After 30 days of plantation, maximum germination was found in parent variety Co-740 followed by GSBT-9, and minimum in other selected canes during 2015-16. But all have shown poor germination rate in this climate. The somaclone GSBT-9 has shown maximum shoot length (more number of internodes), tillering, single cane weight & highest number of millable canes in a unit area compared to its parent variety Co740 & other varieties. Thus, improved performance of GSBT-9 is contributing to higher bimass yield. However, though GSBT-9 has higher crop yield (biomass) but it was failed to recover sugar as compared with GSBT-7 & 8 in which sugar recovery was highest among all studied canes. Hence, all selected somaclone have shown better performance in the growth, yield & sugar recovery than their parent variety Co-740 & other existing varieties. Further, GSBT-9 can survive longer period with sugar recovery in this semi-arid climate & late harvesting area. Copy Right, IJAR, 2016,. All rights reserved. …………………………………………………………………………………………………….... Introduction:- Sugarcane has been major crop of India. Sugarcane (Sacchrum) comprises five species, three are cultivated (S. officinarum, S. barberi & S. sinense) and two are wild (S. spontaneum & S. robustum). Broadly there are two distinct agro-climatic regions of sugarcane cultivation in India, viz., tropical & sub-tropical lying from 8 o N to33 o N latitude except cold hilly areas. Tropical region covers around 45% of total cane area in the country, which includes the states of Maharashtra, AP, Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Gujarat, MP, Goa & Kerala. It is responsible for about 70% of World sugar production (Lakshmanan, et. al., 2002). Production of sugar in India during last five years is rotating around 24.3 to 26.3 million ton. In India, 35 million farmers grow sugarcane for livelihood & equal number of agricultural laborers earns their living by working in sugarcane farms. The main product of sugarcane is sugar; in *Corresponding Author:- Dr. Vijaykumar Biradar. Address:- HOD & Director, PG Studies & Research Centre in Biotechnology, Karnatak College, Bidar, Karnataka, India.