Estimation of genetic variability, character association and path coefficient using sugarcane segregating population

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to explore variation and the association among 13 sugarcane yield and juice quality attributes through correlation and path coefficient analysis. Phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was found higher than genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the traits. Moderate to high GCV, PCV along with high heritability and genetic advance were recorded for several agronomic traits, indicated wider range of variability in population. Results showed that cane yield exhibited highly significant positive correlation with CCS yield, number of millable canes, number of tillers, single cane weight, germination per cent, cane height and cane diameter at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. Path analysis revealed that three characters namely CCS yield, sucrose per cent and number of millable canes exerted positive direct effect on cane yield at both the levels. CCS yield exerted highest indirect effect on cane yield via number of millable canes, single cane weight and number of tillers on cane yield. These indirect effects could be the major cause of concern for the positive correlation of these characters with cane yield thus should be considered at the time of selection.