Character association studies in first clonal stage of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.)

Abstract

Statistical correlation coefficient is a measure that denotes the magnitude and direction of interrelationship between any two casually related variables. The information on the genotypic and phenotypic inter-relationship of cane yield and sugar yield with their component characters interest would be of immense help to the sugarcane breeder. The character association will also help in the selection of superior genotypes from divergent population based on more than one interrelated characters. However, correlation coefficients, sometimes, may be misleading and thus, need to be partitioned into direct and indirect effects. It is important for a breeder to know how other characters influence a particular character before selecting the parental material for crossing purposes. Path coefficient analysis provides direct and indirect effects of component characters thereby enhancing the better understanding of true relationship of the component characters with yield.