Abstract
Five compounds having potential ripening activity were tested on uniformly immature Sugar-cane propagated in the glasshouse with constant moisture and nitrogen regimes. Over a period of 33 days, methyl-3,6-dichloro-oanisate (60-CS-16) and chlormequat chloride (CCC) (0·3 per cent) produced moderate quality improvement for milled juice without restricting growth. Gibberellic acid (0·005 per cent GA3) given alone or in combination with CCC and 60-CS -16, increased growth without clearly affecting quality. Combination of with 60--16 produced no appreciable effect on growth or quality parameters. Pesco 1815 a commercial mixture of 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic zcid and 2, 3, 6-trichlorobenzoic acid (0·30 per cent) similarly failed to affect growth, tissue sucrose content, or milled juice quality over a 33 day period. The compound C.P. 41845 markedly increased Sucrose in leaves, immature Storage tissue, and millable stem tissue. C.P. 41845 depressed growth and rat on development. Acid invertase activity and water-soluble protein content were significantly lowered by C.P. 41845. Results are discussed in terms of multiphasic ripener action, the need for ripening parameters other than growth and quality, and the emergence of C.P. 41845 as a promising agent for chemical ripening at the field
