To study genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance for cane and sugar yield attributing traits in mid-late maturing sugarcane clones

Abstract

Thirteen mid late maturing sugarcane clones including two checks were planted in randomized block design with three replications during 2018-19 at Research Farm, RPCAU, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar to study the genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance for cane and sugar yield along with its component traits. Highly significant differences for all the characters were observed among the 13 clones under studied. Higher numerical values of phenotypic variances and co-variances with respect to its genotypic counterpart were recorded for all the traits indicating greater environmental influence on these traits for total variation. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percent of means were observed for sugar yield, cane yield, germination % at 45 days, cane height, single cane weight at harvest and fiber % at harvest, it indicates the presence of additive gene action therefore, clonal selection based on above said traits might be effective method for sugarcane improvement programme. These traits can be considered for further clonal selection and genetic improvement of mid late maturing sugarcane clones.