Genetic parameters and principal components analysis biplot for agronomical, insect and pathological traits in some sugarcane genotypes

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted at El-Mattana Agricultural Research Station, Luxor Governorate, Egypt during two successive seasons 2018/2019 (plant cane) and 2019/2020 (first ratoon) to screening of eighteen sugarcane genotypes s for the lesser sugarcane borer, smut, streak and mosaic diseases resistance under natural infection and elimination of sensitive genotypes from sugarcane breeding program and to evaluate the performance of some sugarcane genotypes based on principal components analysis biplot and genetic components; heritability and genetic advance for the studied traits. The experimental design used was a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Results show all studied traits varied significantly among evaluated different genotypes in the plant cane and first ratoon. Cane yield of five and two genotypes in plant cane and first ratoon, respectively, gave significantly the highest mean values of cane yield as compare with check variety. Bored stalks% and bored joints % varied significantly among evaluated genotypes. It found high positive correlation between bored stalks% and bored joints and brix% in the positive direction. Plant height and stalk diameter were positively correlated with cane yield, not only smut, mosaic and streak diseases but also bored stalks and bored joints were negatively correlated with cane and sugar yield and negatively correlated sucrose%, purity% and recovery%. The differences between the estimates of GCV and PCV was comparatively narrow for all the characters (except stalk diameter and Mosaic disease) suggesting the possibility of affective selection of these traits and indicating high prospects for genetic progress through selection under the conditions of this investigation.