Character association and path analysis for cane yield, juice quality and their component traits in sugarcane over the environment

Abstract

Pooled analysis for correlation coefficient revealed that cane yield was found to be significantly and positively correlated with CCS (t/ha) followed by germination % at 45 days, stalk height at 360 days, stalk diameter at 360 days, internodes/stalk at 360 days, stalk weight at 360 days and NMC at harvest at both genotypic and phenotypic levels while, CCS t/ha had highly significant and positive correlation with almost all the characters except tillers at 120 days, shoots at 240 days, juice purity % at 360 days and fiber % cane. These yield contributing characters also possessed highly significant and positive association among themselves. Path analysis showed low residual effect (0.028) indicating that there were negligible components left out other than those included in present study which influence cane yield. Further, path analysis revealed that for improving cane yield and quality of juice parameters in sugarcane, weightage in selection should be given to pol % cane at harvest, juice brix % at 360 days, fibre % cane, CCS (t/ha) or sugar yield (t/ha), juice purity % at 360 days and NMC at harvest because they have positive and highest direct effect on cane yield.