Precision of Cane C.C.S Prediction Using its Components

Abstract

In sugarcane improvement program, there are a number of cane progenies derived from crosses between superior parental clones. In early stage of selection, can progenies are grown as individual plant per hill. The breeder then selects them based on high yield and commercial cane sugar (C.C.S.). Cane yield is more sensitive to environments as compared to C.C.S value. Thus the breeder can select high C.C.S. value. Thus the breeder can select high C.C.S. clones in early stage of cane breeding. However, to assess for C.C.S. in tedious. An alternative is to predict the C.C.S. from its components, viz. brix, pol, fibre and purity. There objectives of this study are, (i) to determine effect of female parent on precision of C.C.S. prediction, (ii) to examine major components effecting C.C.S. prediction in plant and ratoon cane, and (iii) to develop appropriate equations to predict C.C.S. value. Results from this study indicated that Pol and brix combined with Pol are appropriate variables for C.C.S. prediction both in planted cane and ratoon cane. Brix with Pol equation provided only slightly higher R2 value than Pol equation. Thus Pol equation should be a better equation for C.C.S. prediction. Female patents were found influencial on the C.C.S. precision, but not when C.C.S. was predicted from Pol.