Expression of invertase and dextransucrase activities in harvested sugarcane and their relationship with sucrose loss at high ambient temperature

Sucrose loss after harvest of sugarcane is one of the major problems of sugar processing units, especially in those areas where crushing continues at high ambient temperature. A study undertaken to assess the magnitude of post-harvest sucrose losses and its relationship with two enzymes, viz., invertase and dextransucrase during late milling season showed precipitous decline in commercial cane sugar with concomitant increase in enzyme activities. The CCS value of freshly harvested cane was 10.88, which declined by 2.27 and 6.59 units after 48 and 240 hours of harvest, accounting for about 60 percent decline in stored sucrose after ten days. In harvested cane treated with water and covered with trash, sucrose loss was around 44 percent whereas in chemically treated and trash covered cane this loss was 27 percent. A per-ceptible increase in acid invertase and dextransucrase activities was noticed with the duration of storage. Chemical treat-ment of harvested cane followed by covering with trash showed appreciable reduction in the enzyme activities. This study also indicates the possibility of minimizing post harvest sucrose losses in sugarcane during late-season by application of a formulation containing anti-microbial and anti-inversion chemicals.