EVALUATION OF IMPORTANT CHARACTERS FOR IMPROVING CANE YIELD IN SUGARCANE (SACCHARUM SP.)

This study was conducted at the Sugar Crops Research Institute, Mardan, Pakistan to examine the associations among traits and their direct and indirect effects on sugarcane (Saccharum sp.) yield. A set of 28 sugarcane genotypes were evaluated in the plant cane crop in a randomized complete block design with three replications during 2010-11 for 12 yield and quality traits. Highly significant genetic variation (P ≤ 0.01) among genotypes was noted. Correlation among the traits showed that number of tillers were significantly correlated with internode length (r = 0.30*) and number of millable stalks (0.38*). Stalk length was noted to have highly significant correlation with internode length (r=0.59**). Path coefficient analysis revealed that number of tillers and millable stalks, stalk length, and sucrose recovery had high direct effects on cane yield. Stalk diameter and Brix also showed positive direct effect on cane yield. Germination, number of internodes per stalk, internode length, polarized sugar (POL), and purity had negative direct effects on cane yield. The present study suggests that selection based on number of tillers, stalk length and recovery would be worthwhile in indirect selection for cane yield. However, a compromise should be made with other traits like purity, and internode length, through which they exhibited a negative indirect effect.