Impact of Seed Coating Agents on Single-Bud Seedcane Germination and Plant Growth in Commercial Sugarcane Cultivation

China is the third largest sugar-producing country in the world. The cost of sugarcane planting has increased rapidly in recent years, and the existing planting model needs to be changed to reduce the cost. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of commercial seed coating agents on the germination and yield of sugarcane. Six commercial seed coating agents (Premis, Gaucho, Colest, Dividend, Manshijin and Maishuping) used for other crops were used to coat the 4-cm-long single seedcane setts and stored for 7 days, respectively, at 22 °C before planting. It was found that all the seed coating agents were effective to reduce the water evaporation of seedcane setts and ensured better germination rate, and Premis, Gaucho, Colest and Maishuping were found better than Dividend and Manshijin. The economic traits of sugarcane, plant height, stalk diameter, single stalk weight and Brix were significantly higher in the Premis seedcane coating treatment than the control at maturity stage in a green house experiment. These results would be helpful to promote the development of the mechanical planting of single-bud seedcane setts for increasing sugarcane production.