A vigorous mutant sugarcane (Saccharum sp.) clone Co 527.

A vigorous fast growing mutant which ends vegetative growth sixty days earlier than the parent variety Co 527 was isolated from gamma irradiated vegetative buds. The mutant initially segregated but stabilized in the vM4 generation. Its growth rate was almost fifty per cent higher than Co 527 beginning in the early stages of growth. It produced a significantly higher early shoot population which enabled it to yield a higher number of millable canes at maturity. Economic characters like sucrose content and juice purity remained unaffected. This mutant had a chromosomal basis in that the number was 2 to 3 lower than in the parent variety.