History and Current Status of Sugarcane Breeding in Egypt

Abstract

Sugarcane has been cultivated in Egypt since 641 AD and is a source of raw material to various agro-based industries. The development of new varieties of sugarcane from controlled crosses in Egypt has developed greatly during recent decades with the majority of the present commercial varieties originating from the local breeding program. Egyptian sugarcane breeding program objectives are high cane and sugar yield, early maturing, good ratooning ability, resistance and tolerance to pests as well as diseases. This program depends on artificial flowering at Giza Research Station (latitude of 30.01° N and longitude of 31.20° E) and natural flowering at Sabahia Research Station, Alexandria (latitude of 31° 12 N and longitude of 29.57° E). There are four stations for selection trials, extending from middle to southern Egypt, namely Mallawi (Minia governorate), Shandaweel (Sohag governorate), Mattana Station (Luxor governorate), and Kom Ombo (Aswan governorate), respectively. Current sugar production in Egypt is about 2.458 million tons with 62.2% from sugar beet and 37.8% from sugarcane.