New sugarcane variety BSRI-48 released

Another new variety of sugarcane BSRI-48 with high yield and high sugar has been released from Bangladesh Sugar crop Research Institute recently. The variety was released at the 105th meeting of the National Seed Board held on June 17 under the chairmanship of Md Mesbahul Islam, Senior Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture.

Yield of this variety (93.50-121.52 tons) is 7.36% higher than that of common Czech variety 'Ishwardi-39' and sugar holding capacity (12.06-15.11%) and molasses extraction rate (10.75%), 0.38% and 0.85% higher respectively.The variety is thick and resistant to smut and wilt diseases. It does not show red rot disease. As the edge of the leaves of this variety of sugarcane is less sharp, the field workers can work in the field easily.

The I-111 / 11 clone was selected in 2011 after re-hybridizing the clone, which was invented in 2009 through hybridization of two varieties of sugarcane in India and Pakistan. It was then selected for release as a new variety through several studies including preliminary yield test, advanced yield test, regional yield test. The variety was released in the presence of all the members at the meeting of the National Seed Board.  Vice Chancellor (VC) of Bangladesh Agricultural University Professor Dr Lutful Hasan and Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council Dr Sheikh Mohammad Bakhtiar praised the variety.