Expedition Collection, Characterization and Diversity Analysis of the New Wild Sugarcane Germplasm from Manipur

Abstract

Saccharum spontaneum, a wild relative of sugarcane had contributed significantly for introgressing wider adaptability, high tillering, resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses in the commercial sugarcane varieties. Manipur state representing tropical to sub-alpine climatic condition was explored and 61 S. spontaneum, 4 S. officinarum, 1 Erianthus fulvus and 1 Narenga fallax accessions were collected. S. spontaneum had wider distribution and were found in river bank to filed bunds, isolated clumps to large population. High variability was observed for many quantitative characters including plant height, tillering, stalk diameter and internode length. Clustering analysis separated the collection into 6 major clusters. While Erianthus fulvus and S. officinarum formed individual clusters, the S. spontaneum accessions were separated into 4 clusters mostly based on biomass potential, plant height and morphotypes. Genetic diversity and utilization of these clones in improving low temperature tolerance, biomass improvement and widening genetic base of sugarcane varieties are discussed.