Character Association and Path Analysis for Cane and Sugar Yield in Selected Clones of Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.)

Present investigation among the 35 clones of sugarcane was conducted in RCBD with two replications. The Analysis of variance indicated the significant variability for all the traits studied. Association study showed significant positive association of cane yield and sugar yield or commercial cane sugar (CCS) yield with number of tillers, NMC, cane length and single cane weight. While, cane yield had non significant negative correlations with juice sucrose, juice purity and CCS per cents, whereas its association with CCS yield was significant positive. CCS yield also had significant positive correlations with cane yield and CCS cane yield. Path coefficient analysis revealed highest direct effects of millable cane length and CCS per cent on cane and CCS yields, respectively suggesting that quality characters should also be taken into consideration in clonal selection programme for evolving improved sugarcane genotypes.