This study was conducted to estimate broad sense heritability, genetic advance, GE interactions and correlations among quality traits in sugarcane clones in western Kenya. Thirteen sugarcane promising clones and one check cultivar were evaluated plant and ratoon crops in three locations under rain fed conditions using the randomised complete block design with three replications. Analysis of variance showed significant differences in hand refractometer brix, sucrose content (Pol% cane), juice purity, fire content, sugar yield and brix yield. Sucrose content, fibre content, sugar yield and brix yield exhibited significant genotype × location (GL) interactions. The genotype mean squares exceeded the GE interactions for all the quality traits suggesting that more emphasis should be placed on testing clones in many locations than on testing ratoon crops within locations. High genetic coefficient of variation (GCV) was detected for cane yield (8.12%), brix yield (6.39%), sugar yield (5.69%) and sucrose content (3.69%). Broad sense heritability was high for sucrose content (0.712) and moderate for cane yield (0.515), fibre content (0.474), juice purity (0.445) and refractometer brix (0.380). Cane yield (10.3%), brix yield (6.7%), sucrose content (5.5%) and sugar yield (5.4%) showed highest expected genetic advance. The results indicated that these traits may respond positively to selection and present opportunities for improvement through breeding. High genetic correlation (r g =0.998) between refractometer brix and sucrose content suggest that selection for refractometer brix can be effective in identifying varieties with high sucrose content.
Sugarcane variety development programmes primarily envisage breeding of varieties with high cane yields and high sugar content in specific environmental conditions. Key components associated with sugar yields are tonnes of cane per hectare and sucrose content. A study was undertaken to evaluate 22 introduced sugarcane genotypes with three checks (KEN 83-737, EAK73-335 and D8484) for sucrose content in western Kenya. The experiment was planted in a Latin square design with three replications at three sites namely Sugar Research Institute Kibos, South Nyanza Sugar Company and Mumias Sugar Company. Data was recorded on refractive brix, stalk thickness, fresh cane yield, sucrose content, fibre content, juice purity and sugar yield. Significant differences at (p<0.05) were observed among genotypes for, sugar yields, brix percent cane, pol percent cane, fibre percent cane and juice purity. The effects of locations on quality were significant in all the traits tested (p<0.05). Effects of G×L were not significant for all the quality traits with exception of brix% cane. Significant positive correlations were detected between sucrose content, juice purity and fiber percent cane.7 Genotypes exhibited superiority to check cultivars in quality traits and their genetic potential can be exploited for high sugar production.
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