Correlation Study between Cane Yield and Attributing Traits and Their Path Analysis in Early Maturing Sugarcane Clones

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted to evaluate the relationship between cane yield and its contributing traits in early maturing sugarcane clones using correlation and path coefficient analyses. The study assessed several important growth and juice quality parameters, including germination percentage at 45 days after planting (DAP), number of shoots at 120 DAP, plant height at harvest, cane diameter at harvest, number of shoots at harvest, number of millable canes at harvest, purity percentage at the 8-month stage, extraction percentage, and Commercial Cane Sugar (CCS). These parameters were analysed to determine their relative contributions to cane yield and to identify traits with significant direct and indirect effects. Correlation analysis revealed that cane yield exhibited significant and positive associations with number of shoots at 120 DAP (0.926), germination percentage at 45 DAP (0.881), CCS (0.862), extraction percentage (0.785), cane diameter at harvest (0.754), number of shoots at harvest (0.502), number of millable canes at harvest (0.494), and purity percentage at 8-month stage (0.394). These strong associations indicate that both early growth parameters and juice quality traits substantially influence cane productivity. Path coefficient analysis further partitioned the correlation coefficients into direct and indirect effects. CCS (t/ha) exerted the highest positive direct effect on cane yield, followed by pol percentage in juice at the 10-month stage, brix percentage at the 8-month stage, purity percentage at the 8-month stage, plant height at harvest, number of shoots at 120 DAP, germination percentage at 45 DAP, and extraction percentage. In contrast, brix percentage at the 10-month stage showed the highest negative direct effect on cane yield, along with purity percentage at the 10-month stage, pol percentage at the 8-month stage, single cane weight, number of millable canes at harvest, number of shoots at harvest, and cane diameter at harvest. Among indirect effects, plant height at harvest contributed the maximum positive indirect influence on cane yield, whereas cane diameter at harvest contributed substantially to negative indirect effects through other associated traits. The findings highlight the complex interrelationship among growth and juice quality traits in determining cane yield. CCS (t/ha), pol percentage, and plant height emerged as the most decisive traits for yield improvement. Therefore, these characters should be given due emphasis in selection strategies aimed at developing high-yielding early maturing sugarcane varieties.