Flowering abilities (panicles initiation period, flowering intensity and pollen fertility) at different altitudes (100, 400, 800 m above sea level) were evaluated in hundred sugarcane cultivars. Flowering data and meteorological records during a 20 year period were processed by principal components and discriminate analyses. In thirty contrasting cultivars, genetic variability was confirmed by ISTRs markers. A reliable approach based on the altitude management have been setting up increasing the number of flowering-induced genotypes and allowing a significant rise of the cross number. Results demonstrate a more efficient exploitation of the existing Saccharum gene pool and an extension of their breeding genetic basis.