The use of plant regulators as sugarcane ripeners has been in order widely used to induce early harvest and optimize crop planning. However, little information exists about the interactions among new released genotypes, plant regulators and technological quality. This study aimed to evaluate the quality response of sugarcane genotypes IAC87-3396, IAC87-3410, IAC89-3124, IAC91-2195, IAC91-5155, PO88-62 and SP80-1842, to the application of ripeners and by three crop management: sulfomethuron-methyl, 15 g a.i. ha-1; ethephon, 480 g a.i. ha-1 and control. The experiment was installed in March 2004 near Jaú, State of São Paulo, Brazil in split-plot randomized complete blocks, with four replicates. The technological attributes evaluated were: total soluble solids (º Brix) in the juice, sucrose (pol %) in the juice, juice purity, cane fiber, reducing sugars (AR) in the juice and recoverable total sugar (ATR) in the juice at 0, 21, 42, 63, 84, 105 and 126 days after the application (DAA) of ripeners. It was observed that the use of ripeners anticipated the harvest at least 21 days compared to the untreated control. With ethephon application harvest can be done between 42 and 84 DAA, and with sulfomethuron-methyl between 105 and 126 DAA. The genotypes showed different responses to the application of ripeners. The genotype PO88-62 was highly responsive to sulfomethuron-methyl; IAC87-3396, IAC87-3410, IAC91-5155 and SP80-1842 to ethephon, and IAC89-3124 and IAC91 2195 to both regulators.
Saccharum spp.; ripener; ethephon; sulfomethuron-methyl; technological attributes
