Variability in sugarcane under rainfed condition

Abstract

Fifteen sugarcane varieties of early and mid late maturity group were taken to study variability for quantitative, biochemical and juice quality characters under rainfed condition. Quantitative characters like germination percentage, number of shoots, leaf area index in June,cane height, number of millable canes, single cane weight and cane yield recorded moderate to high coefficient of variation, heritability and genteic advance. Among biochemical parameters proline content also showed high values of coefficient of variances and heritability. Hence, while selecting varieties tolerant to rainfed condition, these quantitative characters as well as proline content in leaf may be considered. The numerical estimates of genetical parameters for cane diameter, chlorophyll content and sucrose per cent juice were comparatively low.