History of Sugarcane Breeding, Germplasm Development and Related Research in Myanmar

Abstract

Sugarcane is one of the four major crops of Myanmar, and its breeding and related research has begun with the establishment of Pyinmana Central Farm, Naypyitaw, in 1925. The key objectives of sugarcane breeding program in Myanmar are to produce sugarcane varieties with improved cane and sugar yield, good ratooning ability and resistance to locally important pests and diseases. Varietal improvement programs now conduct both introduction and selection of foreign varieties suitable for local growing conditions, and hybridization and selection. On average, it takes 11 years to release a variety for commercial planting under this program. So far, seven locally bred varieties, called PMA varieties (five) and DAR varieties (two), were released between 2004 and 2019. Application of biotechnology for variety improvement is very limited. Progress in sugarcane breeding in Myanmar will largely depend on international cooperation and continuation of germplasm exchange and technical capacity building.