Breeding Potential and Multivariate Analyses of Morphological and Yield Traits in Industrial Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) Accessions in a Humid Tropical Agroecology

Abstract

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is propagated mostly by vegetative method. Although vegetative propagation conserves plant germplasm; it poses challenges in crop breeding. This field study assessed the breeding potential of twelve industrial sugarcane accessions in a humid tropical agroecology of Nigeria. The experiment was laid-out in a randomised complete block design with three replications. Accessions AKWA-005, B70607, C01001, CP65-357, DB37/45 and F141 produced flowers; an indicative trait of their suitability as prospective materials for hybridization. Accession DB37/45 had the highest Brix value of 16.3%, followed by B61208 with 15.7%, accession C01001 had the highest cane yield (58.9 t ha-1) and longest stalks (150 cm); these further highlighted the potentials of C01001, DB37/45, CP65-357, B61208 and AKWA-005 for yield improvement in sugarcane through selection. Whereas principal component and hierarchical cluster analyses (Ward’s method) grouped HAT4, F141 and IMO-002 together, the other accessions formed a separate but distinct grouping. These groupings provided a background information as an aid to selection of similar accessions. Cluster analysis and linear correlation identified significant (P = .05) positive associations between the following traits: stalk girth, stalk length and cane yield. Thus, these traits can be simultaneously selected for and improved in sugarcane. Overall, accession C01001, DB37/45, CP65-357, B61208 and AKWA-005 are recommended for inclusion in the breeding for adaptable lines of sugarcane in the humid tropical agroecology.