MSIRI Annual Report 1969
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MAURITIUS SUGAR INDUSTRY RESEARCH INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 1969 Printed by CLAUDE MARRIER d'UNIENVILLE The Mauritius Printing Cy. Ltd. 37, Sir William Newton Street Port Louis - Mauritius 1970 CORRIGENDA Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute Annual Report 1968 p. 48, Table 12, line 29 should read: iii) 02 is approximately equal to t (Cb2 + Cm2 + 2 Cbrn) p. 51, Discarded Varieties: Varieties resistant to R/ll11l11il/(! disease; poor prrfornumce : After M.134/57 read M.136/57 instead of M.36/57 Statistical Tables p. XI Table XIV, Column A, Virgin. read 36.7 instead of 33.0 p. XXIII Table xxr, Pentachlorophenol, read 392 instead of 783, 224 instead of 447, 405 instead of SI o. CONTENTS Page MEMBERS EXECUTIVE BOARD AND RESEARCH ADVISORY COMMTITEE 5 STAFF LIST 6 REPORT OF CHAIRMAN EXECUTIVE BOARD 9 REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT 13 RESEARCH ACTIVITIES INTRODUCTION R. Antoine 15 CANE BREEDING AND VARIETIES 1. Investigations on the physiology of flowering .. R. Julien 37 2. The breeding policy J. A. Lalouette 49 3. Crossing and selection .. L. P. Noel, P. R. HermeLin & R. Julien 52 4. Variety trials J. A. Lalouette 53 5. Results in Final Variety trials P. Halais & G. RouiIlard 59 6. 1. Results of experiments on soil sterilization with methyl bromide L. P. Noel, P. R. Hermelin, R. Julien & S. de Villecourt 61 n. Results of experiments on the use of preservative solutions during crossing L. P. Noel, P. R. Hermelin, R. Julien & S. de Villecourt 63 CANE DISEASES C. Ricaud I. Gumming disease 65 2. Ratoon stunting 66 3. Yellow spot 68 4. Note s on the disease reaction of some newly released and promising varieties ... 72 5. Some pathological problems resulting from drought 73 6. Miscellaneous 74 CANE PESTS I. Biological control of the scale insect Aulacaspis tegalensis J. R. Williams 77 2. Introduction of Pediobius furvum Gahan J. R. Williams 79 3. The pink borer, Sesamia calamistis J. R. Williams 79 4. Miscellaneous J. R. Williams 80 5. Rats as cane pests M. A. Rajabalee 81 NUTRITION AND SOILS I. Trace element status of canes in Mauritius Y. Wong You Cheong 83 2. Cane yield responses to calcium silicate application Y. Wong You Cheong 87 3. Variety corrections forfoliardiagnosis P. Halais & Y. Wong You Cheong 89 4. Nitrogen and sulphur status of cane leaves as influenced by sulphate of ammonia applications P. Halais & C. Figon 90 5. Yield response of sugar cane to phosphate application in ratoons Y. Wong You Cheong 92 6. Infiltration capacities of some Mauritius soils E. Z. Arlidge 94 CLIMATE AND CULTIVATION l. Weather conditions and sugar production in 1969 P. Halais 97 2. Results in spacing experiments G. Rouillard 102 3. Observations on the evapotranspiration of sugar cane (Final results of Iysimeter experiments) M. Hardy 104 4. Improved self-loading and tipping device for the haulage of sugar cane and other material G . Mazery 106 5. Notes on experiments conducted with ripener DA5 J. A. Lalouette, G. Mazery & R . Ng Ying Sheung 107 WEED CONTROL I. Logarithmic screening of new herb icides C. Mongelard & G. Mc . Intyre 113 2. Second-stage screening trials 115 FOOD CROPS I. Results in potato var iety trials J. R . Mamet &G. Rouillard 125 2. Results in groundnut variety trials J. R. Mamet & G. Rouillard 129 SUGAR MANUFACTURE I. The performance of sugar factories in 1969 J. D. de R. de St. Antoine 133 2. The use of bacterial amylase for reducing the starch content of sugar products E. C. Vignes, M. Abel & L. Le Guen 141 3. Notes on slurry preparation and pan seeding J. D. de R. de St. Antoine 145 4. Chemical control notes : 1. Investigations on the reproducibility of final molasses analysis M . Randabel 150 If . The determination of Brix of final molasses for export M. Randabel, M . Abel & J. D . de R. de SI. Antoine 153 APPENDIX I. The Mauritius Herbarium R. E. Vaughan 157 1. Origins and evolution 157 Il. The Mauritius Herbarium to-day (1969) 159 Ill. Towards a Flora of the Ma scarene Islands 161 IV. Report for 1969 ... 163 STATISTICAL TABLES I. Description of cane sectors II II. Area under sugar cane, 1961 - 1969 iii Ill. Sugar production, 1961 - 1969 11l IV. Yield of cane, 1961 - 1969 IV V. Sugar manufactured % cane, 1960- 1969 V VI. Sugar manufactured per arpent, 1960- 1969 v VII. Rainfall excesses and deficits, 1954- 1969 vi VIII. Monthly temperatures, 1954- 1969 ,.. vii IX. Wind velocity, 1955- 1969 viii X. Wind velocity, cyclone years viii XI. Variety trend, 1956- 1969 ix XII. Varietal composition of plantations, 1965 - 1969 x XIII. Relative production of virgin and ratoon canes, 1956- 1969 xi XIV. Yield of virgin and ratoon canes, 1969 Xl XV. Evolution of 1969 sugar crop xii XVI. Evolution of cane quality, 1969 xiii XVII. (i) Duration of harvest and weekly crushing rates, 1950- 1969, xiv (ii) Mid-harvest date and average difference in the age of successive crops, 1955- 1969 xv XVIII. Summary of chemical control data, 1969 crop xvi (i) Cane crushed and sugar produced xvi (ii) Cane, bagasse and juices xvii (iii) Filter cake, syrup, pH, final molasses and sugar xviii (iv) Massecuites xix (v) Milling work , sucrose losses and balance recoveries xx XIX. Molasses production and utilization, 1949- 1969 xxi XX. Importation of fertilizers, 1954- 1969 xxii XXI. Sales of herbicides, 1967- 1969 xxiii XXII. Importation of herbicide s, 1959- 1969 xxiv XXIII. List of combinations transplanted in 1970 : M/69 Series (i) Early nobilisations of S. spontaneum, S. robustum and S. sinense xxv (ii) (a) Further nobilisations of S. spontaneum, S. robustum and S. sinense : I seedling/pot, 1 pot/location XXVI (b) Further nobilisations of S. spontaneum, S. robustum and S. sinense : 3 seedlings/pot, 2 pots /location XXVI (iii) (a) Combinations having produced more than 9 seedlings: 3 seedlings/pot, 2 pots/location xxvii (b) Combinations having produced more than 9 seedlings : 3 seedlings/pot, 1 pot/location xxviii (c) Combinations having produced more than 9 seedlings: 1 seedling/pot, 1 pot/location XXIX (d) Combinations having produced less than 9 seedlings : I seedling/pot, 1 pot/location xxx (iv) Combinations between Nobles, S. officinarum: 1 seedling/pot, 1 pot/location xxxi XXIV. List of approved cane varieties xxxii * Cover photograph : Potato cultivation in inter-rows of virgin canes. MEMrnERS EXECUTNE BOARD Mr. J. Espitalier-Noel, Chairman, representing the Chamber of Agriculture Mr. A. Mulder, representing Government Mr. H Kcenig I I Mr. Y. Rouillard ~ representing factory owners I Mr. S. D. de R. de St. Antoine J Mr. L. Desvaux de Marigny, representing large planters Mr. G. Beeharry I ~ representing small planters Mr. S. Bunjun J MEMBERS RESEARCH ADVISORY COMMITfEE Mr. R. Antoine, Chairman Mr. A. Mulder, representing the Department of Agriculture Mr. K. Lutchmeenaraidoo, representing the Extension Service of the Department of Agriculture Mr. A. Harel, representing the Chamber of Agriculture Mr. R. Noel "1 I representing the Societe de Technologie Mr. L. Lincoln, January to September ~ Agricole et Sucriere I Mr. F. North-Coombes, September to December J and the senior staff of the Research Institute. STAFF LIST (as at 31st December 1969) Director R. Antoine, B.se . (Lond.), A.R.C.S .• Dip. Ag, Sei. (Cantab.) Asst. Director & Chief Sug. J. D. de R. de Saint Antoine, B.S. (L.S.U.), Dip. Agr . (Maur.) Technologist Chemist E. C. Vignes, M.Se. (Lond.), F.R.I.C., Dip. Agr. (Maur.) Associate Sugar Technologist E. Piat, B.Se. (Glasgow), Dip. Agr. (Maur.), resigned 30.6.69 Instrument Engineer J. T. d'Espaignet, n.sc, (Glasgow), A.R.C.S.T., Dip. Agr, (Maur.) Senior Asst . Sug . Technologist M. Randabel, Dip. Agr. (Maur.) Assistant Sugar Technologist Laboratory Assistants L. Le Guen M. Abel Temporary Sugar Technologist A. Berenger, Dip. Agr. (Maur.) Chief Agriculturist G. Rouillard, Dip. Agr. (Maur.) Associate Agriculturists G. Mazery, Dip. Agr. (Maur.) M. Hardy, Dip. Agr, (Maur.), ilc Reduit Expt. Stn & Irrigation. Senior Field Officers F. Mayer, Dip. Agr. (Maur.) R. Ng Ying Sheung, Dip. Agr. (Maur.), ilc Union Park Expt, Stn Field Officers ... L. Thatcher, Dip. Agr. (Maur.), ilc Belle Rjve Expt . Stn G. Mc Intyre, Dip. Agr. (Maur.) H. Dove, Dip. Agr. (Maur.), ilc Pamplemousses Expt. Stn Consulting Agronomist ... P. Halais, Dip. Agr, (Maur.) Technical Officer, Food Crops R. Mamet Dip. Agr. (Maur.), F.R.E.S . Chemist Y. Wong You Cheong, Ph .D. (Q.U.B.), A.R.I.C. Senior Assistant Chemists L. Ross, Dip. Agr. (Maur.) P. y. Chan, B.Se. (Lond.) Assistant Chemist L. C. Figon Laboratory Assistants C. Cavalot H. Maurice Chief Entomologist J. R. Williams, M.SC. (Bristol), D.LC., F.I. BioI. Assistant Entomologist M. A. Rajabalee Plant Pathologist C. Ricaud, Ph.D. (Lond.), D.LC. Laboratory Assistants S. Sullivan P. Ferre Biometrician J A. Lalouette, Dip. Agr. (Maur.) Plant Breeder L. P. Noel, Dip. Agr, (Maur.) Geneticist H. R. Julien, B.Se. (Reading) Associate Plant Breeder ... P. R. Hermelin, Dip. Agr. (Maur.) Field Assistant S. de Villecourt Plant Physiologist C. Mongelard, M.se., Ph.D. (Lond .), D.I.C ., M.I. BioI. resigned 30.11.69 Laboratory Assistant J. Pitchen Secretary Accountant P. G. du Mee Asst. Secretary Accountant J. Desjardins Librarian Miss M. Ly-Tio-Fane, B.A. (Lond.) Draughtsman-Photographer L. S. de Reland, Grad. N.Y.J.P. Asst. Draughtsman-Photographer .. J. Forget Clerks Mrs. A. Baissac Mrs. M. T. Rae Mrs. J. R. Williams Miss P. Julien THE MAURITIUS HERBARIUM Curator R . E. Vaughan, a .B.B. D.Se. (Lond .), F.R.I.C. Herbarium Assistant J. Gueho REPORT OF THE CHAIRMAN EXECUTIVE BOARD 1969 HE changes on the Board for 1969 were the replacement of Messrs.