The Indian mongoose, Herpestes , was introduced in the West Indies around 1870. Flowering cane is not desirable in commercial plantations because it indicates the end of vegetative growth and sugar production. The greatest advance in sugar cane breeding came in 1888 when it was realized that sugar cane could set fertile seed which could be used to produce better cane varieties. The pollen grain has a short viability, as does the seed. The goal of cane breeding is to produce an economic yield of sugar sustained over several ratoons.
Sugar canes are highly polyploid, wind pollinated outbreeders.
They are clonally propagated, highly heterozygous, and intolerant to inbreeding. New varieties are sought from the first generation progeny of crosses between clones. There are five species of interest to cane breeders. Breeding and selection of cane is not a simple process since viable seeds are seldom produced. Breeding occurs at the experiment stations which are able to provide the proper conditions and techniques required.