Assessment of Genetic Variability, Interrelationships among Cane Yield Attributes in Sugarcane (Saccharum ssp.) Under Plant and Ratoon Crops

By : Gulzar S Sanghera, Vikrant Tyagi, L Kashyap, Rupinderpal Singh

Page No: 127-138

Abstract
Eight sugarcane genotypes including 3 standards representing mid maturing group were evaluated at Punjab Agricultural University, Regional Research Station, Kapurthala, during 2013-14 and 2014- 2015 under plant and ratoon crop in randomized block design. The experiment plot size in both years was 36 m-2 in three replications with an inter-row spacing of 90 cm. The data were recorded on seventeen cane yield and quality traits. Analysis recorded that genotypes used in the testing differed significantly with respect to all characters studied. The high phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation were observed for single cane weight in plant crop and pooled analysis respectively, while, in ratoon crop for CCS t/ha. Cane yield was positively significantly correlated with CCS t/ha, stalk length, single cane weight and NMC at 12 months under both plant and ratoon crop while, with stalk diameter, purity at 10 months, no. of shoots at 240 days under ratoon crop. Path analysis revealed high effect of single cane weight, cane diameter, and NMC at harvest on cane yield in both plant and ratoon crops. This study revealed that characters with high heritability coupled with genetic advance and positive association with cane yield and heaving high direct and indirect effects are advocated as selection criteria while selection to be made for higher sugar and cane yield. High indirect effect of number of shoots at 240 days and NMC at harvest, cane length and diameter and single cane weight were recorded that may be used for indirect selection.

Authors :
Gulzar S Sanghera, Vikrant Tyagi, L Kashyap and Rupinderpal Singh : Punjab Agricultural University, Regional Research Station, Kapurthala-144601, Punjab, India