Genetic Relationship between Fiber and Sugarcane Yield Components

Abstract

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) fiber, the dry, water‐insoluble component of the stalk, is an important quality component because of its inverse relationship to juice extraction and milling efficiency. Sugarcane cultivars in temperate regions are enhanced with S. spontaneum L. germplasm to provide increased vigor and cold tolerance. Unfortunately, S. spontaneum L. clones typically have low recoverable sucrose and high fiber content. Our objective was to estimate genetic and genotype × environment (G × E) interaction variances for sugarcane fiber content, not previously reported for a temperate sugarcane population. Twenty‐two clones from the first replicated testing stage of the Louisiana Sugarcane Variety Development Program (LSVDP) were studied in a first and second ratoon crop at three locations. Genotype × crop (G × C), genotype × location (G × L), and genotype × crop × location (G × C × L) variances were much smaller than genetic and error variances. Heritability of fiber on a single‐plot basis was 0.71 and 0.91 when heritability was based on three locations, two replicates, and one crop. From path analysis, the direct effect of fiber content on recoverable sucrose was −0.203, indicating a weak inverse relationship between these two traits. Fiber content was significantly correlated with stalk diameter, rg = −0.585, indicating that indirect selection for larger stalk diameter should decrease fiber content. Direct selection for optimum fiber content by evaluating clones in a single crop and/or location would be effective. Evaluation at different locations and during different crops, however, would offset the relatively large error variance, thereby increasing the statistical power to determine differences among clones for fiber.

Molecular dissection of complex traits in autopolyploids: mapping QTLs affecting sugar yield and related traits in sugarcane

“…Fiber content was negatively correlated with sugar content and stalk weight in GI, consistent with Gravois and Milligan's (1992) observations on 22 randomly selected clones derived from 14 parents. In the PM population, since sugar contents were low in both parents (50.4 lb/t for MJ, and -37 lb/t for PIN), the correlation coefficients were not significant between fiber content and the other sugar yield-related traits.…”

“…For example, 19 QTLs for fiber content were mapped in GI, but only one was mapped in PM. Fiber content has been known to have a heritability as high as 86% (Kang et al 1990) to 91% (Gravois and Milligan 1992), and was due to predominantly additive gene action (Hogarth and Cross 1987). This single-fiber-content QTL in PIN explained only 7% of the PV, indicating that additional QTLs should be involved but they were not detectable with single-dose markers and the current population size.…”

Heritability and Correlation among Sugarcane (<i>Saccharum</i> spp.) Yield and Some Agronomic and Sugar Quality Traits in Ethiopia

“…The high genetic gain of these characters was the result of high broad sense heritability and high GCV for these traits [45]. The high broad sense heritability coupled with high genetic advance for these characters indicates these traits are under the control of additive genetic effects and highlights the usefulness of selection based on phenotypic performance [22]. High genetic advance (as percent of mean) for millable cane number was also reported by [16] and for cane yield [11].…”

“…High genetic advance (as percent of mean) for millable cane number was also reported by [16] and for cane yield [11]. Moderate heritability with low genetic advance for sugar quality parameters indicate presence of non-additive gene action and therefore simple selection on phenotypic performance may not be effective [22]. Similarly, low genetic advance with low heritability was recorded for sprout count one month after planting, leaf length, tiller count 5 months after planting, number of internodes and inter node length.…”

Energy Cane: Its Concept, Development, Characteristics, and Prospects

“…This is manifested not only in plant cane but also in ratoons [24,67]. But, in conventional sugarcane cultivars a high number of tillers (thin stalks) probably indicate a high proportion of S. spontaneum alleles with consequent impairment in sugar content and an increase in fiber content, a condition traditionally considered undesirable for milling purpose (e.g., [68,69]). Conversely, in energy cane what is required is more fiber than sugar, a combination that is also associated with high biomass productivity as has been discussed above.…”